Dhaka, Jan. 14 -- Trust in governments, business chiefs and media is crumbling amid a perceived mishandling by leaders of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic and a widespread feeling among ordinary citizens that they are being misled, a global survey has found.

The Edelman Trust Barometer, which for two decades has polled thousands of people on their trust in core institutions, found 57 per cent of people believe government leaders, business chiefs, and journalists are spreading falsehoods or exaggerations, reports Reuters.

"We have a leadership crisis," Richard Edelman, whose Edelman communications group produces the survey, said at the Reuters Next conference on Wednesday after its release.

"In a crisis, traditionally, you get qualit...