A new survey has found that Australians trust the supposed “old” media such as newspapers, television, and radio more than the Internet.
According to Essential Research survey, despite the recent protestations of web media proprietors, traditional media is still the dominant source for information on news and current affairs.
It is also more highly trusted than its Internet counterparts.
The survey, which took 1000 people into consideration, revealed that commercial TV news and current affairs is the most frequently consumed news media, with 87 percent of people saying they watched at least once a week. Newspapers came second, with 72 percent reading at least weekly.
In contrast, just 28 percent people said they accessed blogs at least once a week, and 62 percent of people said they accessed news websites at least weekly.
Essential Research’s Director Peter Lewis said the figures revealed how the consumers seek a distinction between news and opinion.
“It gives some encouragement to professional journalists that there is in the public's mind a difference between news and opinion, and as long as that separation remains in the public's eyes, there's always going to be a place for quality journalists,” The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Lewis, as saying.
