Survey reveals big differences in public, press attitudes about media

Via Editor & Publisher: The Department of Public Policy at the University of Connecticut released a survey Monday highlighting differences of opinion between the public and the press regarding media issues. Editor and Publisher said the biggest gap was between 8 in 10 journalists who cop to reading blogs versus less than 1 in 10 of the public who say they do.

Three-quarters of surveyed news professionals said that bloggers aren't "real journalists" because they don't answer to "commonly held ethical standards." But, 85 percent of the press said bloggers should be protected by the First Amendment.

Finally, 61 percent of the press said that the Internet has improved journalism.

[The same organization released a survey earlier this year revealing that many young Americans think the press should have government approval before publishing stories. See related OJR news blog entry.]