For a moment last fall, most Americans felt good about the news media.
But they’ve snapped out of it.
According to the results of a July survey of 1,365 adults conducted by the Pew Research Center for People and the Press, an independent opinion research organization based in Washington, “The favorable glow from the media’s post-9/11 performance has completely disappeared.”
Among the findings:
- Some 49 percent of the respondents think news organizations are highly professional, down from 73 percent in November.
- Whereas 69 percent believed in November that the news media were patriotic, 49 percent now say that the media “stand up for America” and 35 percent believe the media are too critical of the country.
- Two-thirds believe that news organizations won’t acknowledge their mistakes.
- Since November, more Republicans believe the media are politically biased (from 61 percent to 69 percent); more Democrats believe that as well (from 42 percent to 57 percent); and ditto for independents (from 40 percent to 56 percent).
Bottom line: The relationship between the public and the news media has plunged back to normal.
There are no details on the extent to which this exists in the Star-Telegram’s market. Our surveys find high marks in reader satisfaction. Still, no one cuts us much slack. Readers are quick to criticize, and that’s their prerogative as our ultimate editors.
It’ll be interesting to see how we’re scored for 9/11 anniversary coverage.
For most of us, readers’ unmet expectations are an ongoing cause for concern, particularly at a time when there is so much sympathy for government secrecy.
At the same time, however, such public skepticism creates incentive. We’re challenged to respond with high-value coverage and impeccable credibility. We also are reminded to respect the public’s right to treat us with the same skepticism that we apply to those we cover.
Here’s a terrifying scenario:
Imagine the news media surrounded by an adoring public. Parents dream of their children becoming journalists. We testify at congressional hearings about our favorite causes. Electronic games and babies are named after us. So are lines of apparel and pets.
We can do no wrong. We all view ourselves as brilliant, extraordinary, infallible. Now and then, we feign humility to nurture the masses’ adulation.
At the Star-Telegram, elitist logic leads to discontinuation of policies such as publishing corrections on the cover of the section, even Page One, in which errors occur. Our fans ignore our mistakes anyway. It no longer matters that we enjoy high marks in reader satisfaction. We wad up our mission statement about “Earning the people’s trust daily” and toss it into the champagne bucket.
No one needs substantive news and information, so there’s no need for the Freedom of Information Act or the First Amendment or sunshine laws. Blind loyalty to us erases concerns about libel or slander.
If the public swooned over the news media, life would be awful.
What a nightmare. But the reality is in the Pew Center’s survey – the news media have a job to do in the face of misperceptions and constant attacks from those who hate us and blame us for creating the problems that we cover.
The public does give the watchdog a couple of pats on the head. They appreciate our coverage of the war on terror, and a plurality believes that critical coverage of the military keeps the armed forces prepared, the survey found.
Beyond that, we work for surly taskmasters.
Thank goodness.
