The Rise of Populism in Europe: Are we losing trust in media?
At a recent debate on democracy, media, and populism in Europe, several experts came together to share their perspectives: Henriette Engbersen (Public Value Team Lead at the Swiss public broadcaster), Julius van de Laar (Chief Strategist at Van de Laar Campaigning), Vibe Klarup (Amnesty International Denmark), Anders Samuelsen (former Foreign Minister of Denmark and Greenland), and Henriette Høj Gharib (CEO and Co-Founder of Podster ApS). Despite their different backgrounds, they all agreed on one key issue — trust in media is declining.
This immediately raised an important question: what happens to democracy when people no longer trust the information they receive?
Media plays a central role in shaping public opinion and enabling democratic participation. However, as trust decreases, people begin to question what is true and what is not. This creates space for misinformation, confusion, and increasing polarization. During the discussion, it became clear that this is not a distant threat, but something already happening across Europe.
One of the main drivers behind this shift is the rise of populism. As highlighted by Julius van de Laar, populist movements are highly strategic. They rely on emotional messaging, simple narratives, and clear divisions between “us” and “them.” These approaches are effective because they are easy to understand and resonate with people’s frustrations. Importantly, this is not limited to one political side — both left- and right-wing populism use similar techniques to gain support.
This leads to a complex challenge. Democracy depends on freedom of speech, but what happens when that freedom is used to spread misleading or false information? The speakers emphasized that open debate is essential, yet it must be balanced with a commitment to truth. Without this balance, public discussions risk becoming distorted and unproductive.
Another important point was the role of public broadcasters. Henriette Engbersen stressed that these institutions must actively demonstrate their value to society. They are not only content creators but also defenders of independent journalism. In a time of increasing skepticism, they need to engage with audiences and clearly communicate their role in supporting democracy and countering disinformation.
At the same time, digital platforms and algorithms are changing how information spreads. Content that is emotional or controversial is often amplified, while balanced journalism receives less visibility. This contributes to a more polarized information environment and makes it harder for people to access reliable sources.
Overall, the debate highlighted that rebuilding trust in media is both necessary and challenging. It requires transparency, accountability, and active engagement from media institutions. At the same time, audiences must also take responsibility for critically evaluating the information they consume.
In conclusion, the decline of trust in media is closely connected to the rise of populism and the changing media landscape. If this trend continues, it could weaken democratic systems across Europe. However, by addressing these challenges and strengthening the relationship between media and society, it is still possible to rebuild trust and support a more informed and resilient democracy.
