Abstract
As face-to-face communication was restricted during the COVID-19 pandemic, which affected all areas of life in many aspects, people turned their ways to media tools intensively. Due to uncertainties regarding the origin and spread of the disease at the beginning and later stages of the pandemic, individuals have been exposed to heavy flow of information through traditional and new media tools. In such a setting, meaningful information can be withdrawn by analysing individuals’ attitudes towards the media. Within this frame, this study aims to reveal individuals' attitudes and sense of trust towards traditional and social media tools during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study was conducted in the early stages of the pandemic, May-June 2020, using an online questionnaire. The sample of the study comprised of volunteer individuals over the age of 18, and in the questionnaire, in addition to demographic questions, 8 items took place which aimed to determine the participants' attitudes and sense of trust towards traditional and social media. According to the findings of the study, the participants think that the media reflects the pandemic worse than it actually is and that false news takes place in the media. Furthermore, it was found that the participants have low trust in social media. As a result, it is essential for the society to have positive attitudes and trust in the media so that the pandemic procedure can be efficiently handled. In this context, traditional media and legislators should ensure information security by taking the necessary measures. In this way, the media can contribute to public health.