Independent media in Lebanon remain a vital pillar of freedom of expression and democratic resilience but now operate in an environment of crisis, fragmentation, and deep public mistrust. Years of economic collapse, political paralysis, and conflict have reshaped how Lebanese citizens access and interpret information. This study, commissioned by the Samir Kassir Foundation (SKF) and conducted by Ipsos, explores how audiences across Lebanon perceive, trust, and engage with independent media.
The research engaged participants across ten focus groups representing diverse regions, age groups, and socio-economic backgrounds. Discussions examined evolving news habits, perceptions of credibility, and emotional responses to independent media content and website design.
The findings reveal that Lebanese audiences are highly informed but deeply distrustful. News consumption has shifted from civic participation to a coping mechanism amid fear and uncertainty, with WhatsApp emerging as the dominant channel for real-time updates. In this fragmented ecosystem, trust has become experiential rather than institutional. Accordingly, people rely on what they see, share, or live, rather than what the established media reports. The concept of “independent media” remains fluid and largely misunderstood, often equated with neutrality or authenticity rather than editorial or financial autonomy.
Content testing showed that humanitarian and social-justice narratives resonate strongly across sectarian and class divides, while overtly political content often generates fatigue and skepticism. Despite strong emotional reactions, audiences exhibit learned helplessness: they trust facts but doubt that journalism can drive change. Website testing further revealed that design now serves as a marker of credibility, with clean, accessible, bilingual layouts perceived as more trustworthy than cluttered or English-heavy ones.
The study concludes that Lebanon’s citizens are hyper-informed yet disempowered, consuming vast amounts of information without faith in institutions or belief in their own civic agency. Key recommendations include reframing media independence as a form of public service centered on transparency, empathy, and relevance; prioritizing solution-oriented and human-centered storytelling that connects journalism to daily life; and investing in Arabic-first, mobile-friendly, and visually professional content formats to expand accessibility and trust.
Independent outlets should also engage youth through participatory storytelling and collaborations with credible digital voices, bridging generational divides in information consumption. Finally, long-term resilience requires building a cooperative ecosystem through shared infrastructure, regional partnerships, and diversified funding streams, ensuring that independent media can endure beyond crisis moments and rebuild public confidence in truthful, inclusive journalism.
