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  • Jun, 2012

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    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%).

  • Nov, 2011

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    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+.

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  • May, 2011

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    Trust in Media

    Q. How much would you say you trust each of the following media sources to provide you with the news and information you want about Australian politics?

    A lot/some trust
    Total a lot/some trust Total not much/no trust A lot of trust Some trust Not much trust No trust at all Don’t know Aged 18-34 Aged 35-54 Aged 55+
    ABC TV 76% 15% 29% 47% 9% 6% 9% 73% 77% 79%
    SBS 70% 15% 24% 46% 10% 5% 15% 69% 72% 67%
    ABC radio 69% 17% 25% 44% 11% 6% 14% 66% 71% 71%
    Daily newspapers 53% 40% 6% 47% 31% 9% 7% 52% 53% 52%
    Commercial TV 45% 48% 4% 41% 35% 13% 7% 42% 48% 44%
    Sky News 41% 25% 7% 34% 17% 8% 34% 46% 42% 34%
    Commercial radio 40% 48% 4% 36% 34% 14% 12% 34% 44% 41%

    The most trusted media for news and information about politics were ABC TV (76%), SBS (70%) and ABC radio (69%). The least trusted were commercial radio and commercial TV (both 48% not much or no trust).

    Those aged 18-34 tended to have more trust in Sky News (46%) but less trust in commercial radio (34%).

    The major differences by voting intention were that Liberal/National voters have more trust in commercial TV (52%), Sky News (48%) and commercial radio (49%).

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