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July 13, 2003
Strong Opposition to Media Cross-Ownership Emerges
Questionnaire
PEW RESEARCH CENTER FOR THE PEOPLE & THE PRESS
JULY 2003 MEDIA UPDATE
FINAL TOPLINE
June 19 - July 2, 2003
N=1201
Q.2 Now I will read a list of some stories covered by news organizations this
past month. As I read each item, tell me if you happened to follow this
news story very closely, fairly closely, not too closely, or not at all
closely. [INSERT ITEM; RANDOMIZE.]
Very Fairly Not too Not at all
Closely Closely Closely Closely DK/Ref
a. The controversy over not finding
weapons of mass destruction in
Iraq so far 29 36 21 13 1=100
b. News about the current situation
in Iraq 37 41 13 8 1=100
June, 2003 46 35 13 6 *=100
May, 2003 63 29 6 2 *=100
April 11-16, 2003 47 40 10 2 1=100
April 2-7, 2003 54 34 9 2 1=100
March 20-24, 2003 57 33 7 2 1=100
March 13-16, 2003 62 27 6 4 1=100
February, 2003 62 25 8 4 1=100
January, 2003 55 29 10 4 2=100
December, 2002 51 32 10 6 1=100
Late October, 2002 53 33 8 5 1=100
Early October, 2002 60 28 6 5 1=100
Early September, 2002 48 29 15 6 2=100
c. Continued violence in the Middle
East between the Palestinians and
the Israelis 26 40 20 13 1=100
December, 2002 29 36 22 12 1=100
Early October, 2002 32 39 20 8 1=100
June, 2002 38 33 18 10 1=100
April, 2002 38 37 14 10 1=100
Early April, 2002 44 33 13 9 1=100
December, 2001 31 40 19 9 1=100
Early September, 2001 21 33 25 20 1=100
April, 2001 22 34 24 19 1=100
Mid-October, 2000 30 38 18 13 1=100
Early October, 2000 21 30 27 21 1=100
January, 1997 12 23 29 35 1=100
October, 1996 17 34 26 23 *=100
May, 1988 18 37 34 9 2=100
d. The murder of Laci Peterson, the
pregnant California woman whose
husband has been charged in her
death 22 34 26 17 1=100
May, 2003 31 31 21 16 1=100
e. The publication of Hillary
Clinton's book about her life 8 14 25 52 1=100
ASK FORM 1 ONLY: ASK Q.3 ITEMS ONLY IF CORRESPONDING ITEM IN Q.2 WAS FOLLOWED
VERY OR FAIRLY CLOSELY
Q.3F1 In general, how would you rate the job the press has done in covering
[INSERT ITEM; RANDOMIZE], excellent, good, only fair, or poor?
Only
Excellent Good Fair Poor DK/Ref (N)
a.F1 The controversy over not
finding weapons of mass
destruction in Iraq so far 16 34 33 15 2=100 (402)
b.F1 News about the current
situation in Iraq 22 42 25 9 2=100 (470)
March 20-April 7, 2003 38 40 13 6 3=100
c.F1 Continued violence in the
Middle East Between the
Palestinians and the Israelis 20 42 25 10 3=100 (405)
d.F1 The murder of Laci Peterson 27 42 20 7 4=100 (333)
e.F1 The publication of Hillary
Clinton's book about her life 17 47 24 5 7=100 (137)
ASK FORM 2 ONLY [N=610]:
Q.4F2 Do you think news organizations are giving too much coverage, too little
coverage, or the right amount of coverage to [INSERT ITEM; RANDOMIZE]?
Too much Too little Right amount Don't Know/
coverage coverage coverage Refused
a.F2 The controversy over not
finding weapons of mass
destruction in Iraq so far 30 24 40 6=100
b.F2 News about the current
situation in Iraq 19 17 60 4=100
May, 2003 34 8 55 3=100
Early April, 2003 39 4 55 2=100
c.F2 Continued violence in the
Middle East between the
Palestinians and the Israelis 19 15 59 7=100
d.F2 The murder of Laci Peterson 39 10 40 11=100
May, 2003 39 11 39 11=100
e.F2 The publication of Hillary
Clinton's book about her life 55 7 24 14=100
On a different subject
Q.7 How have you been getting most of your news about national and international
issues? From television, from newspapers, from radio, from magazines, or
from the Internet? [ACCEPT TWO ANSWERS: IF ONLY ONE RESPONSE IS GIVEN,
PROBE FOR ADDITIONAL RESPONSE]
Mid- Early Early
March Feb Jan Jan Sept Sept Feb Oct Jan Jan Sept Jan Sept Jan Jan
2003 2003 2003 2002 2001 2001 2001 1999 1999 1996 1995 1994 1993 1993 1991
79 Television 89 83 81 82 90 74 76 80 82 88 82 83 83 83 82
45 Newspapers 24 42 44 42 11 45 40 48 42 61 63 51 60 52 40
16 Radio 19 19 22 21 14 18 16 19 18 25 20 15 17 17 15
5 Magazines * 4 4 3 * 6 4 5 4 8 10 10 9 5 4
19 Internet 11 15 17 14 5 13 10 11 6 -- -- -- -- -- --
1 Other(VOL) 2 3 2 2 1 1 2 2 2 2 1 5 3 1 1
* DK/Ref * * 1 * 1 * 1 * * * 1 1 * 1 *
IF RESPONDENT ANSWERED '1' TELEVISION AS EITHER 1ST OR 2ND RESPONSE IN Q.7 ASK
Q.7a. IF NOT, SKIP TO Q.8
Q.7a Do you get most of your news about national and international issues from
[READ, RANDOMIZE ITEMS 2 THRU 4 AND 5 THRU 8 SEPARATELY, AND RANDOMIZE SETS
OF ITEMS (LOCAL; NETWORK; CABLE). ACCEPT MULTIPLE ANSWERS BUT DO NOT PROBE
FOR ADDITIONAL]
Jan 2002
17 Local news programming 16
12 ABC Network news 11
11 CBS Network news 11
14 NBC Network news 15
27 CNN Cable news 28
9 MSNBC Cable news 8
22 The Fox News Cable Channel 16
3 CNBC Cable news 4
3 (DO NOT READ) Don't know/Refused 2
ASK FORM 1 ONLY [N=591]:
Thinking again about the news media,
Q.8F1 Some people think that by criticizing leaders, news organizations keep
political leaders from doing their job. Others think that such criticism
is worth it because it keeps political leaders from doing things that
should not be done. Which position is closer to your opinion?
Mid- Early Early Late Early
July Nov Sept Feb Feb Feb Jan Jan Aug Dec July
2002 2001 2001 1999 1998 1997 1994 1994 1989 1986 1985
Keeps leaders from
29 doing their job 26 32 25 31 39 32 24 18 23 26 17
Keeps leaders from
doing things that
54 shouldn't be done 59 54 60 58 55 56 66 69 68 60 67
17 Don't Know/Refused 15 14 15 11 6 12 10 13 9 14 16
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
ASK FORM 2 ONLY [N=610]:
Q.8F2 Some people think that by criticizing the military, news organizations
weaken the country's defenses. Others think that such criticism helps
keep our nation militarily prepared. Which position is closer to your
opinion?
Mid-
July Nov March Aug Dec July
2002 2001 1991 1989 1986 1985
43 Weakens defenses 40 37 28 33 31 31
45 Keeps nation prepared 49 49 59 56 57 51
12 Don't know/Refused 11 14 13 11 12 18
100 100 100 100 100 100 100
ASK ALL:
Q.9 In general, do you think news organizations get the facts straight, or do
you think that their stories and reports are often inaccurate?
Mid- Early EarlyEarly
July Nov Sept Feb Aug Feb Feb Jan Aug Aug May Jan July
2002 2001 2001 1999 1998 1998 1997 1992 1989 1988 1988 1988 1985
Get the facts
36 straight 35 46 35 37 33 34 37 49 54 40 48 44 55
Stories often
56 inaccurate 56 45 57 58 58 63 56 44 44 50 43 48 34
8 DK/Refused 9 9 8 5 9 3 7 7 2 10 9 8 11
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
Q.10 In presenting the news dealing with political and social issues, do you
think that news organizations deal fairly with all sides, or do they tend
to favor one side?
Early
Sept Feb Jan Aug Aug May Jan Dec July July
2001 1997 1992 1989 1988 1988 1988 1986 1986 1985
Deal fairly
26 with all sides 26 27 31 28 36 34 30 39 37 34
Tend to favor
66 one side 67 67 63 68 57 56 59 54 57 53
8 DK/Refused 7 6 6 4 7 10 11 7 6 13
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
Q.11 In general, do you think news organizations are pretty independent, or are
they often influenced by powerful people and organizations?
Early
Sept Jan Jan Aug Jan July July
2001 1994 1992 1989 1988 1986 1985
23 Pretty independent 23 28 35 33 40 37 37
Often influenced
by powerful people
70 and organizations 71 63 58 62 49 53 53
7 Don't know/Refused 6 9 7 5 11 10 10
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
Q.12 In general, do you think news organizations pay too much attention to GOOD
NEWS, too much attention to BAD NEWS, or do they mostly report the kinds of
stories they should be covering?
Early
Sept May Aug July
2001 1991 1989 1985
2 Too much attention to good news 3 2 3 1
67 Too much attention to bad news 67 54 64 60
Report the kinds of stories
25 they should be covering 24 37 30 35
6 Don't know/Refused 6 7 3 4
100 100 100 100 100
Q.13 I'm going to read you some pairs of opposite phrases. After I read each pair,
tell me which ONE phrase you feel better describes news organizations
generally. If you think that NEITHER phrase applies, please say so. [NOTE FORM
SPLIT; RANDOMIZE ITEMS ON FORM 1; ASK ITEM h. FIRST ON FORM 2 AND RANDOMIZE
THE REST]
Mid- Early
July Nov Sept Feb Aug Jan July July
ASK FORM 1 ONLY [N=591]: 2002 2001 2001 1999 1989 1987 1986 1985
a.F1 Care about the people
31 they report on, OR 30 47 23 21 -- 41 -- 35
Don't care about the
56 people they report on? 55 38 64 67 -- 45 -- 48
9 Neither applies 10 11 10 9 -- 9 -- 10
4 Don't know/Refused 5 4 3 3 -- 5 -- 7
100 100 100 100 100 100 100
b.F1 Willing to admit their
27 mistakes, OR 23 35 24 26 -- -- -- 34
Try to cover up their
62 mistakes? 67 52 67 66 -- -- -- 55
5 Neither applies 6 9 5 6 -- -- -- 4
6 Don't know/Refused 4 4 4 2 -- -- -- 7
100 100 100 100 100 100
c.F1 45 Moral, OR 39 53 40 40 -- -- -- 54
32 Immoral? 36 23 34 38 -- -- -- 13
14 Neither applies 18 17 20 16 -- -- -- 20
9 Don't know/Refused 7 7 6 6 -- -- -- 13
100 100 100 100 100 100
d.F1 55 Growing in influence,OR 57 -- 55 59 -- -- -- 63
29 Declining in influence? 29 -- 29 32 -- -- -- 17
8 Neither applies 7 -- 9 6 -- -- -- 7
8 Don't know/Refused 7 -- 7 3 -- -- -- 13
100 100 100 100 100
Mid- Early
July Nov Sept Feb Aug Jan July July
ASK FORM 1 ONLY [N=591]: 2002 2001 2001 1999 1989 1987 1986 1985
e.F1 52 Protect democracy, OR 50 60 46 45 55 52 58 54
28 Hurt democracy? 29 19 32 38 19 27 18 23
13 Neither applies 14 14 15 13 20 13 17 13
7 Don't know/Refused 7 7 7 4 6 8 7 10
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
ASK FORM 2 ONLY [N=610]:
f.F2 Care about how good a
68 job they do, OR 65 78 69 69 -- -- 77 79
Don't care about how
22 good a job they do? 23 14 22 22 -- -- 16 11
7 Neither applies 8 6 7 6 -- -- 5 4
3 Don't know/Refused 4 2 2 3 -- -- 2 6
100 100 100 100 100 100 100
g.F2 62 Highly professional, OR 49 73 54 52 -- -- 71 72
24 Not professional? 31 12 27 32 -- -- 13 11
9 Neither applies 15 12 15 13 -- -- 12 9
5 Don't know/Refused 5 3 4 3 -- -- 4 8
100 100 100 100 100 100 100
h.F2 51 Stand up for America,OR 49 69 43 41 -- 53 53 52
Too critical of
33 America? 35 17 36 42 -- 35 28 30
12 Neither applies 12 10 16 13 -- 8 15 10
4 Don't know/Refused 4 4 5 4 -- 4 4 8
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
i.F2 Politically biased in
43 their reporting, OR 59 47 59 56 -- 47 42 45
Careful that their
reporting is NOT
29 politically biased 26 35 26 31 -- 39 41 36
9 Neither applies 10 11 8 8 -- 7 9 7
9 Don't know/Refused 5 7 7 5 -- 7 8 12
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
j.F2 51 Liberal, OR -- -- -- -- -- 54 -- 41
26 Conservative -- -- -- -- -- 26 -- 19
14 Neither applies -- -- -- -- -- 12 -- 20
9 Don't know/Refused -- -- -- -- -- 8 -- 20
100 100 100
ASK FORM 1 ONLY [N=591]:
Q.14F1 Do you think some news organizations are becoming too critical of America,
or don't you think so?
46 Yes, too critical of America
48 No, not too critical of America
6 Don't know/Refused
100
ASK FORM 2 ONLY [N=610]:
Q.14F2 Do you think some news organizations are becoming too pro-American, or
don't you think so?
IF YES IN Q.14F2, ASK:
Q.15F2 Why do you think they are doing this? To boost their ratings or for
other reasons?
25 Yes, too pro-American
14 To boost their ratings
8 For other reasons
1 Both (VOL.)
* Neither (VOL.)
2 Don't know/Refused (VOL.)
66 No, not too pro-American
9 Don't know/Refused
100
ASK ALL:
Q.16 I am going to mention some issues about television news reporting. For each
tell me if you think it is a good thing or a bad thing... First [INSERT
ITEM, RANDOMIZE] is that a good thing or a bad thing in your opinion?
Good Bad
Thing Thing Neither DK/Ref
a. Hosts of cable news shows
having strong opinions about
politics 47 40 5 8=100
July, 2002 50 38 6 6=100
b. News organizations taking a
strong pro-American point of view 70 20 5 5=100
c. The growing number of political
news talk shows on cable T.V. 47 41 4 8=100
ASK FORM 1 ONLY [N=591]:
Q.17F1 In your opinion, are the news organizations you are familiar with being
fair or unfair to the Bush administration?
Fair Unfair DK/Refused
G.W. Bush: July, 2003 62 24 14=100
G.W. Bush: February, 2001 65 19 16=100
Clinton: Early September, 1998 52 40 8=100
Clinton: February, 1998 49 44 7=100
Clinton: September, 1994 67 26 7=100
Clinton: May, 1994 52 36 12=100
Clinton: August, 1993 66 21 13=100
Clinton: June, 1993 51 43 6=100
Clinton: February, 1993 72 17 11=100
Bush, Sr.: January, 1992 77 15 8=100
Bush, Sr.: November, 1990 72 15 13=100
Bush, Sr.: January, 1990 76 14 10=100
Bush, Sr.: August, 1989 82 12 6=100
Reagan: January, 1988 66 21 13=100
Reagan: January, 1987 67 25 8=100
Reagan: July, 1985 78 12 10=100
ASK FORM 2 ONLY [N=610]:
Q.18F2 Do you think the press has been too critical of the Bush Administration
policies and performance so far, not critical enough or do you think
that the press has handled this about right?
Clinton
June
1993
25 Press too critical 35
23 Not critical enough 12
48 About right 49
4 Don't know/Refused 4
100 100
ASK ALL:
On another subject
Q.19 How much, if anything, have you heard about a Federal Communications
Commission proposal to reduce current limits on the number of news outlets
one company can own a lot, a little, or nothing at all?
Feb
2003
12 A lot 3
36 A little 23
51 Nothing at all 72
1 Don't know/Refused 2
100 100
Q.20 Currently federal rules limit how many news outlets a company can own
nationally and in any one community. What's your opinion do you think
allowing companies to own more TV, radio and newspaper outlets in a community
would have a positive or negative impact on the country, or wouldn't it make
much difference?
Feb
2003
10 Positive 11
50 Negative 34
36 Wouldn't make much difference 46
4 Don't know/Refused 9
100 100
Q.21 Have you, yourself, ever been quoted or mentioned in a news story that was
published or aired? IF ANSWERED 'YES' IN Q.21:
Q.22 About how many times has this happened to you?
July
1985
24 Yes 19
6 5 times or more 5
10 2 - 4 times 8
7 1 time 6
1 DK *
75 No 79
1 Don't know/Refused 2
100 100
IF ANSWERED 'YES' IN Q.21:
Q.23 Thinking about the last time you were quoted or mentioned in a news story,
were you satisfied or dissatisfied overall with the way the story turned out?
July
1985
24 Yes 19
17 Satisfied 16
6 Dissatisfied 3
1 Don't know/Refused *
75 No 79
1 Don't know/Refused 2
100 100
ASK ALL:
Q.24 Do you think news organizations pay attention to complaints from the public
about inaccuracies in news reports, or don't you think so?
35 Yes, pay attention
58 No, don't pay attention
7 Don't know/Refused
100
Q.25 How much, if anything, have you heard about some serious problems with
reporting at the New York Times that led to the resignation of its top
editors? A great deal, some, not much, or nothing at all?
21 A great deal
29 Some
17 Not much
32 Nothing at all
1 Don't Know/Refused
100
Q.26 A reporter at the New York Times was recently discovered making up news stories.
How often do you think this happens at news organizations? Frequently,
occasionally, only sometimes, or hardly ever?
22 Frequently
36 Occasionally
25 Only sometimes
14 Hardly ever
3 Don't Know/Refused
100
Q.27 In your opinion, which is better that news coverage of the war on terrorism be
pro-American or that news coverage of the war on terrorism be neutral?
Early Late
April March Feb Mid-Nov March
2003 2003 2003 2001 1991
29 Pro-American 23 25 16 30 22
64 Neutral 69 68 78 64 71
7 No opinion/DK/Refused 8 7 6 6 7
100 100 100 100 100 100
Now, just a few questions for statistical purposes only.
Q.30 Do you use a computer at your workplace, at school, at home or anywhere else on
at least an occasional basis?
IF "1, YES" (USE A COMPUTER) IN Q.30, ASK:
Q.31 Do you ever go online to access the Internet or World Wide Web or to send and
receive email?
Based on Total Respondents:
Computer User Goes Online
Yes No DK/Ref Yes No DK/Ref
July, 2003 75 25 *=100 65 35 *=100
January, 2003 76 24 0=100 67 33 *=100
Early October, 2002 75 25 *=100 63 37 *=100
August, 2002 78 22 *=100 69 31 *=100
April, 2002 71 29 *=100 62 38 0=100
January, 2002 73 27 0=100 62 38 0=100
Mid-September, 2001 72 28 *=100 62 38 *=100
June, 2001 72 28 *=100 62 38 0=100
April, 2001 72 28 *=100 62 38 0=100
January, 2001 71 29 *=100 61 39 0=100
July, 2000 68 31 1=100 55 45 *=100
April, 2000 68 32 *=100 54 46 *=100
January, 2000 68 32 *=100 52 48 *=100
October, 1999 67 33 *=100 50 50 0=100
July, 1999 68 32 *=100 49 51 0=100
April, 1999 71 29 *=100 51 49 *=100
January, 1999 69 31 *=100 47 53 *=100
Early September, 1998 64 36 *=100 42 58 *=100
Early August, 1998 66 34 *=100 41 59 *=100
April, 1998 61 39 *=100 36 64 0=100
January, 1998 65 35 *=100 37 63 0=100
November, 1997 66 34 *=100 36 63 1=100
June, 1997 60 40 0=100 29 71 0=100
Early September, 1996 56 44 *=100 22 78 0=100
July, 1996 56 44 *=100 23 77 0=100
April, 1996 58 42 *=100 21 79 *=100
January, 1996 59 41 0=100 21 79 0=100
June, 1995 -- -- -- 14 86 *=100
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