Trust in industries
Q. How much trust do you have in the following industries to act in the public interest
|
Total a lot/some trust |
A lot of trust |
Some trust |
Not much trust |
No trust at all |
Don’t know |
|
| Agriculture |
72% |
20% |
52% |
18% |
4% |
5% |
| Tourism |
68% |
12% |
56% |
22% |
6% |
5% |
| Manufacturing |
56% |
8% |
48% |
30% |
8% |
7% |
| Construction and development |
48% |
5% |
43% |
33% |
12% |
6% |
| Retail |
47% |
3% |
44% |
38% |
12% |
3% |
| Telecommunications |
37% |
3% |
34% |
41% |
18% |
3% |
| Banking |
33% |
5% |
28% |
36% |
29% |
3% |
| Mining |
32% |
3% |
29% |
35% |
25% |
8% |
| Media |
30% |
2% |
28% |
40% |
27% |
2% |
| Power companies |
18% |
1% |
17% |
37% |
41% |
4% |
The industries most trusted to act in the public interest were agriculture (72% some/a lot of trust), tourism (68%) and manufacturing (56%).
The industries least trusted to act in the public interest were power companies (18%), the media (30%), mining (32%) and banking (33%).
The only industry on which there were major differences was mining where 43% of Liberal/National voters had a lot/some trust compared to only 25% of Labor voters and 17% of Greens voters.
What next for public broadcasters in the digital age?
If SBS and the ABC don’t get a substantial increase in funding, their future is shaky, warns Nadine Flood.
The old media empires are being transformed by a new audience which doesn’t pay for its news. The News Corporation scandal in the UK is turning people away from newspapers. So what are the ramifications for public broadcasting?
CPSU’s Nadine Flood tells 3Q the role of the national broadcasters will be more important than ever. Investigative journalism and public accountability are at risk. But public funding must increase if they are to fulfil their roles and continue to innovate.
Trust in Media
Q. How much trust do you have in what you read or hear in the following media?
|
Total a lot/some 15 Mar 10 |
Total a lot /some 25 Jul 11 |
Total a lot /some 12 Dec 11
|
Total a lot/some |
A lot of trust |
Some trust |
Not much trust |
No trust at all |
Don’t know |
Don’t use |
|
| News and opinion in daily newspapers |
62% |
53% |
46% |
52% |
6% |
46% |
30% |
11% |
2% |
6% |
| News and opinion in local newspapers |
- |
54% |
52% |
56% |
7% |
49% |
27% |
10% |
2% |
5% |
| Commercial TV news and current affairs |
64% |
48% |
43% |
46% |
6% |
40% |
33% |
16% |
2% |
3% |
| ABC TV news and current affairs |
70% |
71% |
72% |
74% |
25% |
49% |
15% |
5% |
2% |
5% |
| Commercial radio news and current affairs |
54% |
46% |
45% |
45% |
5% |
40% |
32% |
14% |
3% |
7% |
| ABC radio news and current affairs |
62% |
67% |
67% |
69% |
23% |
46% |
14% |
6% |
3% |
8% |
| Commercial radio talkback programs |
38% |
33% |
33% |
33% |
5% |
28% |
32% |
21% |
3% |
11% |
| ABC radio talkback programs |
45% |
47% |
47% |
50% |
10% |
40% |
25% |
9% |
4% |
12% |
| News and opinion websites |
49% |
41% |
38% |
40% |
5% |
37% |
33% |
14% |
3% |
8% |
| Internet blogs |
20% |
20% |
17% |
20% |
3% |
17% |
36% |
26% |
4% |
14% |
Overall, trust in media has changed little since this question was asked last year. Trust has stayed much the same or increased slightly for all media measured.
The most trusted media were ABC TV news and current affairs (74% a lot/some trust) and ABC radio news and current affairs (69%).
The least trusted were internet blogs (20%) and commercial radio talkback programs (33%).
Pay to Access News Websites
Q. Some newspapers in Australia now require readers to take out a subscription to view all their articles online. This means, while some news and opinion articles are free, readers will have to pay to access all content. How likely would you be to pay a subscription to access news websites?
|
Total 7 Nov 11 |
Total |
Aged 18-34 |
Aged 35-54 |
Aged 55+ |
Read The Aust |
Read SMH |
Read Tele |
Read The Age |
Read Herald Sun |
Read Courier mail |
|
| Total likely |
9% |
13% |
22% |
11% |
6% |
25% |
28% |
18% |
22% |
10% |
18% |
| Total not likely |
88% |
82% |
71% |
85% |
93% |
72% |
69% |
79% |
76% |
88% |
81% |
| Very likely |
2% |
3% |
5% |
3% |
1% |
12% |
7% |
6% |
5% |
4% |
5% |
| Somewhat likely |
7% |
10% |
17% |
8% |
5% |
13% |
21% |
12% |
17% |
6% |
13% |
| Not very likely |
18% |
17% |
16% |
18% |
17% |
19% |
18% |
19% |
21% |
19% |
13% |
| Not at all likely |
70% |
65% |
55% |
67% |
76% |
53% |
51% |
60% |
55% |
69% |
68% |
| Don’t know |
4% |
5% |
7% |
5% |
* |
3% |
3% |
4% |
2% |
2% |
2% |
13% of respondents said they would be very or somewhat likely to pay to access news websites – up from 9% recorded in November last year.
Younger respondents were more likely to be willing to pay for access to news websites – 22% of those aged under 35.
Current readers most likely to pay for access were readers of the SMH (28%), The Australian (25%) and The Age (22%).
Only 10% of HeraldSun readers said they would be likely to pay for access.
Impact of Gina Rinehart on Independence of Fairfax Newspapers
Q. Gina Rinehart (mining company owner and Australia’s wealthiest person) has recently bought a major stake in Fairfax newspapers (publishers of the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age). Do you think this will make Fairfax newspapers reporting of politics and business more balanced and independent, less balanced and independent or will It make no difference?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | NSW | Victoria | |
| More balanced and independent | 7% | 7% | 8% | 6% | 11% | 5% |
| Less balanced and independent | 31% | 35% | 22% | 62% | 33% | 31% |
| Make no difference | 44% | 36% | 55% | 23% | 38% | 46% |
| Don’t know | 19% | 22% | 15% | 9% | 18% | 18% |
44% think that Gina Rinehart’s purchase of a major stake in Fairfax will make no difference to the balance and independence of the newspapers. 31% think this will make the newspapers less balanced and independent and only 7% think the newspapers will become more balanced and independent.
Greens voters (62%) and respondents aged under 35 (37%) were most likely to think the newspapers will become less balanced and independent and Liberal/National voters least likely (22%).
Government Control of Media ownership
Q. Do you think the Government should have more or less control of media ownership in Australia?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | NSW | Victoria | |
| Should have more control | 24% | 29% | 17% | 38% | 28% | 22% |
| Should have less control | 24% | 17% | 30% | 30% | 23% | 29% |
| Has about the right control now | 34% | 38% | 38% | 18% | 34% | 34% |
| Don’t know | 18% | 16% | 15% | 14% | 16% | 16% |
Respondents were evenly divided over whether the Government should have more or less control of media ownership in Australia. 24% think they should have more control and 24% think they should have less – and 34% think they have about the right control.
Greens voters (38%) and Labor voters (29%) are more likely to think the Government should have more control and 30% of Liberal/National voters think they should have less control.
The Past Year – The Economy and Industries
Q. Thinking about the last 12 months, has it been a good or bad year for each of the following?
| Total good
(Dec 10 |
Total bad
(Dec 10) |
Total good | Total bad | Very good | Good | Neither good nor bad | Bad | Very bad | Don’t know | |
| The banks | 69% | 13% | 71% | 8% | 35% | 36% | 16% | 6% | 2% | 4% |
| The mining industry | 57% | 14% | 68% | 11% | 34% | 34% | 15% | 8% | 3% | 6% |
| Large companies and corporations | 44% | 15% | 40% | 22% | 8% | 32% | 32% | 18% | 4% | 6% |
| The Australian economy | 41% | 20% | 33% | 31% | 4% | 29% | 32% | 24% | 7% | 3% |
| The media | 30% | 14% | 25% | 27% | 6% | 19% | 37% | 19% | 8% | 10% |
| Farming and agriculture | 14% | 50% | 23% | 40% | 2% | 21% | 30% | 28% | 12% | 7% |
| The environment | 14% | 37% | 20% | 33% | 3% | 17% | 41% | 24% | 9% | 6% |
| Small business | 14% | 45% | 10% | 61% | 1% | 9% | 24% | 42% | 19% | 6% |
A majority of respondents think it has been a good year for the banks (71%) and the mining industry (68%). They are also more likely to think it has been a good year for large companies and corporations (40% good/22% bad) and the economy (33%/31%). However, they are more likely to think the year has been bad for small business (61%), farming and agriculture (40%) and the environment (33%).
In terms of the economy, Labor voters (50% good/18% bad) and Greens voters (47%/15%) were more likely to think it has been a good year – while 45% of Liberal/National voters considered it poor and 23% good.
Compared to last years’ results, respondents considered 2011 a better year than 2010 for the mining industry (up 11% to 68% good), farming and agriculture (up 9% to 23%) and the environment (up 6% to 20%). Perceptions of the economy dropped from a net +21% to +2%.
Trust in Media
Q. How much trust do you have in what you read or hear in the following media?
| Total a lot/some
15 Mar 10 |
Total a lot /some
25 Jul 11 |
Total a lot /some | A lot of trust | Some trust | Not much trust | No trust at all | Don’t know | Don’t use | |
| News and opinion in daily newspapers | 62% | 53% | 46% | 3% | 43% | 32% | 13% | 3% | 5% |
| News and opinion in local newspapers | - | 54% | 52% | 4% | 48% | 29% | 11% | 3% | 5% |
| Commercial TV news and current affairs | 64% | 48% | 43% | 5% | 38% | 34% | 19% | 3% | 2% |
| ABC TV news and current affairs | 70% | 71% | 72% | 23% | 49% | 14% | 6% | 3% | 5% |
| Commercial radio news and current affairs | 54% | 46% | 45% | 4% | 41% | 30% | 15% | 3% | 6% |
| ABC radio news and current affairs | 62% | 67% | 67% | 19% | 48% | 14% | 6% | 3% | 10% |
| Commercial radio talkback programs | 38% | 33% | 33% | 5% | 28% | 32% | 22% | 3% | 10% |
| ABC radio talkback programs | 45% | 47% | 47% | 7% | 40% | 28% | 9% | 3% | 13% |
| News and opinion websites | 49% | 41% | 38% | 3% | 35% | 36% | 14% | 4% | 9% |
| Internet blogs | 20% | 20% | 17% | 1% | 16% | 37% | 25% | 5% | 15% |
Since July, trust in media has dropped for daily newspapers (-7%) and commercial TV news and current affairs (-5%).
ABC TV news and current affairs has the highest number of people who have a lot/some trust (72%). This is followed by ABC radio news and current affairs (67%).
The lowest level of trust was recorded for internet blog (17%). This was followed by commercial radio talkback programs (33%).
Regulation of Newspapers
Q. Newspapers and magazines are regulated by the Australian Press Council which was established by the media industry and comprises representatives of media organisations and as well as independent members.
From what you read, do you think that the Press Council is doing a good or poor job of regulating newspapers in Australia?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Total good | 20% | 22% | 25% | 14% |
| Total poor | 25% | 26% | 22% | 37% |
| Very good job | 1% | 3% | 1% | - |
| Good job | 19% | 19% | 24% | 14% |
| Neither good nor poor | 38% | 38% | 40% | 31% |
| Poor job | 17% | 15% | 16% | 24% |
| Very poor job | 8% | 11% | 6% | 13% |
| Don’t know | 17% | 14% | 13% | 18% |
20% believed that the Press Council is doing a good job of regulating newspapers and 25% thought it is doing a poor job. 38% say they are doing neither a good nor poor job and 17% don’t know.
Those most likely to think they are doing a good job were aged under 35 (25%) and Liberal/National voters (25%). Those most likely to think they are doing a poor job were aged 55+ (35%) and Greens voters (37%).
Media Usage
Q. Thinking about where you get your news, on an average day which of the following media would you use? (multiple response)
Q. And which one is your main source of news?
| Total used | Main source | Total use (weekdays) Dec 10 | ||
| Daily newspaper | 41% | 13% | 42% | |
| Commercial (free-to-air) TV news | 60% | 31% | 64% | |
| ABC TV news | 32% | 8% | 32% | |
| SBS TV news | 15% | 2% | 12% | |
| Pay TV news | 11% | 3% | 10% | |
| Commercial radio news | 28% | 5% | 27% | |
| ABC radio news | 18% | 5% | 17% | |
| Internet news sites – e.g. newspaper sites, ABC, etc | 59% | 30% | 55% | |
| Internet blogs | 8% | * | 6% | |
| None of them | 2% | 2% | 5% |
The most used media for daily news were commercial TV news (60% use daily), internet news sites (59%) and daily newspapers (41%).
Since this question was last asked in December last year, usage of internet news sites has increased a little (+4%) and commercial TV news decreased a little (-4%).
The main sources of news were commercial TV news (31%) and internet news sites (30%).
Commercial TV news was the main source of news for 38% of those aged 45-64, 36% of women and 44% of part-time workers.
Internet news sites were the main source of news for 43% of those aged under 35 and 36% of full-time workers.
Daily newspapers were the main source of news for 26% of those aged 65+.
Pay to Access News Websites
Q. Some newspapers in Australia now require readers to take out a subscription to view all their articles online. This means, while some news and opinion articles are free, readers will have to pay to access all content. How likely would you be to pay a subscription to access news websites?
| Total | Aged
18-34 |
Aged
35-54 |
Aged 55+ | Main source Internet news sites | |
| Total likely | 9% | 14% | 6% | 4% | 8% |
| Total not likely | 88% | 80% | 89% | 95% | 88% |
| Very likely | 2% | 2% | 1% | 2% | 1% |
| Somewhat likely | 7% | 12% | 5% | 2% | 7% |
| Not very likely | 18% | 18% | 17% | 19% | 19% |
| Not at all likely | 70% | 62% | 72% | 76% | 69% |
| Don’t know | 4% | 5% | 5% | 1% | 5% |
Only 9% of respondents said they would be very or somewhat likely to pay to access news websites.
Among those for whom news websites are their main source of news, only 8% said they would be likely to pay for access. Younger respondents were more likely to be willing to pay for access to news websites – 14% of those aged under 35.
Essential Report
Two Party Preferred: 20 May 2013
In this week's report:
3Q: Latest episodes
-
Essential Report with EMC’s Peter Lewis and Jackie Woods
Comments19 Sep 2012Lewis and Woods talk through this week’s polling numbers: voting intention, leader attributes, drug laws in Australia, and more…
-
Are we ready for the grey revolution?
Comments12 Sep 2012Ken Morrison says our cities need to be transformed for our ageing population – and it’s not solely about nursing homes.
-
Ships, trains and submarines — can we build them here?
Comments11 Sep 2012Tim Ayres wishes Clive Palmer and other mining giants would give local manufacturers a go instead of heading overseas.
-
Do we undervalue our public sector innovations?
Comments11 Sep 2012Nadine Flood questions whether governments take our science and other publicly funded breakthroughs for granted.
Essential Tags
Recent Comments
- Workers Care About Kids At Risk on Would You Ask Your Grandmother To Live On $35 A Day?
- Morgan on Federal politics – voting intention
- Krusha on Time for Activities
- Jonathan Tasini on We Can’t Eat Austerity
- Clarkejeremy3 on We Can’t Eat Austerity
