5/18/2005 11:14

Based on a survey released recently by the University of Connecticut, the answer is probably yes. Thanks to Dee Rambeau for drawing my attention to a Washington Times article on the subject.

Some of the highlights from the study/Washington Times article:

*According to the American public: 43 percent said the press has "too much freedom in our society." Conversely, 3 percent of the journalists polled agreed. A third of the journalists felt they had "too little freedom."
*Only 39 percent said journalists reported their information accurately. Journalists had a different perception of their work: 72 percent said the press does a good job providing accurate coverage.
*The survey also found that 61 percent of Americans think news coverage is biased -- a question not posed to the journalists.
*Americans also are leery of new stories relying on anonymous sources. More than half -- 53 percent -- say such stories should not be published. Among journalists, 14 percent agreed.
*Both, however, said unnamed sources should be protected. Eighty-nine percent of journalists said reporters should be able to conceal the identity of a source, even if ordered by a court to do otherwise; 59 percent of the public agreed.
*Bloggers did not fare well in the poll. Among journalists, 59 percent said blogs were not a "legitimate" source of news and only 13 percent considered bloggers to be journalists -- though 85 percent said bloggers should be afforded First Amendment protection.

Posted by at May 18, 2005 11:14 AM

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