Banking Image Now Worse Than After 2009 Bailout

New Book Highlights Causes of and Potential Solutions to the Trust Meltdown

January 20, 2015. Davos. -- The banking industry faced severe negativity in 2014, resulting in an image little better than airline disasters and mining industry fatalities, according to new research from Media Tenor International. On television news, banks actually had a worse image than during the 2007/2008 crisis.

Additionally, coverage on central banks around the world has been largely negative, highlighting the lack of trust in those hired to steer the economy. Only the Reserve Bank of India had a clearly positive image.

"While the global economic crisis in 2007/2008 seemed to be a sudden event, it was really just the start of a long-term change in the way we view our key corporate, governmental, and social institutions," says Racheline Maltese, a researcher at Media Tenor.  "We're now in the sixth year of a global trust meltdown, which has been exemplified by a loss of faith in banks, regulators, and governments."

Media Tenor's Trust Meltdown VI provides a scientific perspective on the state of trust around the world. With analysis focused on North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa, Trust Meltdown VI looks not just at causes, but at potential solutions. These include improved transparency and communications, a renewed focus on ESG that goes beyond green-washing, and the potential benefits of positive news.

This research looks at all 362,024 reports on international TV news, January 1, 2001 - December 31, 2014; all 64,922 reports in opinion-leading business media on the banking industry, January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2014; 5,323 quoted financial analyst statements on the banking industry in opinion-leading business media, January 1, 2014 - December 31, 2014.

For over 20 years Media Tenor's mission has been to contribute to objective, diverse, and newsworthy media content by bringing together the diverse parties. Media Tenor's global research projects include analyses of election campaigns, investor relations, public diplomacy, corporate communications and other topics critical to news makers and news audiences.

For more information please contact Racheline Maltese at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 212-935-0210.