European Tribune - Community, Politics & Progress.

Trust in Media

by STA
Thu May 4th, 2006 at 03:35:35 PM EST

Who do you trust more, media or government?

A new BBC poll is intriguing. Citizens of ten different countries were polled, regarding who they trust more -- the government or the media.

Most countries sided with the media. Whereas freedom of press is a requirement for a good democracy, democratic countries put their trust in government first.

Among them, United States has the highest gap, with a greater distrust of the media.

Perhaps that is why we have blogs...

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Trust in Media | 4 comments (4 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: Trust in Media (none / 0)

Interesting correlation indeed. The more trust they have in the media, the less they have in the government. I'm wondering if this is partially the media's fault as right now from what I read in the Bulgarian press, the only news is bad news. Then people read what the government has done wrong, and easily find whom to blame for all their mishappenings. And in this circle, the only thing they can still trust, is the media- because it confirms that their fears are true.

And if they happen to question the media- there are blogs ;-) The difference is how reputation is established in the media and in the blogosphere.

I can resist anything but temptation.- Oscar Wilde

by Little L (ljolito (at) gmail (dot) com) on Thu May 4th, 2006 at 05:28:33 PM EST

Re: Trust in Media (none / 1)

The Bulgarian case is quite interesting! Thanks.

I think that there are two factors that come to my mind -- other than the current state of the media.

First, in other democratic countries, it was a close call. Only the US had a real gap. I think this is due to the assault by the right on the media, discrediting the so-called MSM. (As an academic, I feel the same assault and I would not be surprised if a poll shows that people trust the government more than professors! I often hear parents -- as they drop their children off at the beginning of the year -- say: "don't listen too much to these guys. They don't know what they're talking about." It amazes me that they are willing to pay the big bucks for what they seem to undervalue.)

Second, there is a more interesting issue. Tocqueville had an analysis that always struck me as important. He said that democratic people, just because they vote, are more invested in their government's actions and laws. I have often experienced this. being Iranian by birth, it is easier for me to dismiss the mullah-clowns; they don't represent me -- not even a little. But in a democracy, even when you did not vote for the guy in power, you still feel like he is representing you. You get embarrassed. If you leave under a totalitarian or corrupt regime, you can -- or have to -- distance yourself.

Anyway. Just some thoughts.

there is the fact that

by STA (sta.blog@gmail.com) on Thu May 4th, 2006 at 05:43:42 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Trust in Media (none / 0)

democratic people, just because they vote, are more invested in their government's actions and laws. I have often experienced this. being Iranian by birth, it is easier for me to dismiss the mullah-clowns; they don't represent me -- not even a little. But in a democracy, even when you did not vote for the guy in power, you still feel like he is representing you. You get embarrassed. If you leave under a totalitarian or corrupt regime, you can -- or have to -- distance yourself.

Exactly! Because leaders, once they are chosen, are in a hurry to proclaim that they are going to be everybody's representatives.

You know, sometimes I get really angry at the media. (I am studying journalism, and media is a sensitive topic for me :-).) I get angry when it becomes a tool the government uses to control the public opinion. I think most of the people who have lived under Communism (and I was really lucky not to remember much of it, because I was 5 back in 1989) feel the same way. And if they see or read something that reminds them of propaganda even a little bit, they react with mistrust.

I can resist anything but temptation.- Oscar Wilde

by Little L (ljolito (at) gmail (dot) com) on Fri May 5th, 2006 at 04:27:12 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Trust in Media (none / 0)

Until about 50 years ago many newspapers (and even some radio and TV stations) in the US were locally owned. In many cases a single person or family had controlling interest. This allowed for a variety of opinions to be heard, although sometimes local news outlets were too beholden to the local officials or advertisers.

The crusading local midwest editor was a popular image in fiction.

Changes to the laws since then have allowed for media consolidation. Newspapers, radio and TV stations are now owned by the same companies in many cases. In addition the number of stations a firm can own has increased, so a company like Clear Channel now owns 1000+ radio stations. The same thing has happened with major city newspapers. There are less than a dozen conglomerates left. The last family owned chain (Knight-Ridder) was just sold.

Being big, industrial enterprises, these media companies now find there interests allied with other big businesses and less with the man in the street. The result is that there is no real reporting of business news (scandals excepted), little investigative reporting of government misdeeds, and a loss of variety.

There has been some pushback as blogs and other online outlets start to get noticed. This has spilled into the newspapers a bit, but not much into TV news yet. A good example was the Washington correspondents dinner this week where satirist Stephen Colbert made fun of Bush and the spineless press. The next day the major papers showed a clip of Bush's self mocking skit, but didn't mention Colbert. A strong sense of outrage and the posting of the Colbert speech online has led to followup stories which both reported on the content of his skit and reported on the failure to mention it the first time as a further example of the poor coverage of controversy in the press.

So, there is hope, but TV is still the dominant news source for most people. It is also the way most people make up their minds when choosing a candidate.

Policies not Politics
---- Daily Landscape

by rdf (robert.feinman@gmail.com) on Fri May 5th, 2006 at 09:02:05 AM EST

Trust in Media | 4 comments (4 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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