Using and Trusting in Media, Type of Governance and the Political Trust of University Students: A Case Study

Political trust in governments and political organs is a significant determinant of legitimacy. This quantitative study, using survey and questionnaire, has studied and investigated the effects of two variables of the state’s governing method and performance, as well as soft power on students’ political trust. The sample of the study included 400 bachelor’s and master’s students studying at Shiraz University. The result revealed a positive relationship students’ use of domestic media and trusting their contents and their political trust on the government and the political institutions. There was a negative and inverse relation when it came to the Internet and satellite channels. In terms of government performance indicators (including sense of security, notion of rule of law, services, accountability and political effectiveness) and political trust, a positive relationship was observed. However, an inverse and significant relationship was seen between the thought that there’s discrimination and corruption and political trust. The multivariate analysis showed that the variables namely Trust in news of local media, notion of corruption in institutions, notion of accountability, responsibility and supervision in the government and administration, sense of security , notion of rule of law, and sex (being man), totally explained 49.7% of changes in political trust.