The number of people taking a daily interest in news has declined, causing a long-term drop in figures for TV and radio news and newspaper readers, a report has suggested.

The report, New News, Old News, explores the notion that news is being dumbed down, and was compiled for the Independent Television Commission (ITC) and Broadcasting Standards Council (BSC).

Its authors, Professor Ian Hargreaves and James Thomas at Cardiff University, found that only 16% of people questioned regard themselves as regular current affairs watchers.

Regulators want the government to back TV news

And 65% of those surveyed said their main source of news came from TV, compared with 16% for radio, 15% for newspapers and 2% for the internet.

But the internet was also found to be the preferred news medium among younger ethnic minority groups.

The report called for the new Communications Bill, which was proposed in Parliament in May, to defend broadcast news.

It concluded it was vital that Britain's news outlets were not undermined.

TV is people's preferred medium for news

Independent Television Commission chief executive Patricia Hodgson said access to "trustworthy, informative news" can no more be taken for granted than "clean air".

She stressed that "conscious acts of public policy" were needed to guarantee its preservation, calling for news broadcasters to be supported by the Bill "in terms of investment, scheduling and diverse ownership".

Ms Hodgson added that TV is still the "supreme news medium", but that news was "expensive and audiences, with access to more channels and entertainment, have declined".

Professor Hargreaves said: "Broadcasters should recognise the importance of their role in ensuring the effective functioning of Britain's democratic procedures and be responsive to the Parliamentary view."

Who do you trust most?

Trevor McDonald: 43% Kirsty Young: 24% Bob Geldof: 22% Ian Hislop: 11% Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan: 10% David Beckham/ Chris Tarrant: 9% Cilla Black: 8% Tony Blair: 7% Source: New News, Old News

The findings also suggested ITV newscaster Sir Trevor McDonald is the nation's most trusted figure, with 43% of those polled claiming to trust him a great deal, followed by Channel 5 newscaster Kirsty Young at 24%.

Prime Minister Tony Blair trailed behind with just 8% of the votes.

The report concluded that the low ranking of Mr Blair was an indication of the public disenchantment with the state of the country's politics.