It's con-TRIB-ute and dis-TRIB-ute, not CON-trib-ute and DIS-trib-ute!

[80sMum]

Why do so many TV presenters and newsreaders mispronounce 'contribute' and 'distribute' these days? The emphasis always seems to be put on the first syllable instead of the second. Why do people do this?

because that's how people talk these days? it's how I say them - maybe I need to learn English

It's how I say them too. Don't see a problem tbh.

Though I wad the only one who still says con TRIB ute, I'd started doubting myself

no it isn't.
it's CON-tribute.
DIS-tribute

conTRIBute is just wrong.

are you American? it sounds like american pronunciation.
(if you are, then , ywes, that's fine, but if you're European, it's wrong)

Couldn't resist digging this one up again! Cambridge dictionary would appear to agree with me!

conTRIbute!

disTRIbute!

According to this, both are acceptable in British English.

www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/us/definition/english/contribute

If you can understand a person, even if they are mispronouncing or otherwise mangling a word, then the communication and use of language is effective. Criticising someone just because they don't use language the way you want them too seems unfair.

Except it doesn't agree with you, does it? It says both are OK in British English.

(but kudos for allowing something to bother you for 3 whole years before finding that link, to, er, not prove you were right anyway)