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  • Dec, 2010

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    News Sources – Weekends

    Q. And where do you get your news on an average weekend?

      Total Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens
    Weekend newspaper 50% 51% 56% 43%
    Commercial (free-to-air) TV news 59% 64% 62% 42%
    ABC TV news 28% 29% 30% 29%
    SBS TV news 10% 9% 10% 13%
    Pay TV news 9% 9% 10% 3%
    Commercial radio news 17% 15% 22% 10%
    ABC radio news 13% 13% 14% 17%
    Internet news sites – e.g. newspaper sites, ABC, etc 42% 41% 43% 42%
    Internet blogs 4% 2% 4% 8%
    None of them 6% 4% 3% 15%

     The most commonly used news sources on weekends are commercial TV news (59%), newspapers (50%) and internet news sites (42%). Respondents were more likely to read newspapers on weekends than weekdays (42% weekdays/50% weekends) but less likely to view commercial TV news (64%/59%) or internet news sites (55%/42%).

    Respondents aged 55+ were more likely to use commercial TV news (65%), newspapers (61%), and ABC TV news (46%). Comments »

  • Dec, 2010

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    Trust in News Sources

    Q. Please rate your level of trust in the news and information from each source.

     

    Total always/usually trustworthy

    Always trustworthy

    Usually trustworthy

    Seldom trustworthy

    I do not trust it at all

    Don’t know

    ABC TV news 82% 21% 61% 7% 3% 8%
    SBS TV news 78% 19% 59% 8% 2% 12%
    ABC radio news 78% 18% 60% 8% 3% 12%
    Commercial (free-to-air) TV news 69% 5% 64% 20% 6% 5%
    Internet news sites – e.g. newspaper sites, ABC, etc 66% 5% 61% 18% 4% 12%
    Newspapers 65% 3% 62% 22% 7% 6%
    Commercial radio news 62% 4% 58% 19% 8% 11%
    Pay TV news 48% 4% 44% 14% 6% 32%
    Internet blogs 17% 1% 16% 31% 26% 26%

     The most trusted news sources were ABC TV news (82%), ABC radio news (78%) and SBS TV news (78%).

    The least trustworthy were internet blogs (57% seldom/no trust), newspapers (29%), commercial radio news (27%) and commercial TV news (26%).

    Women were more likely than men to trust commercial TV news (75%/62%), newspapers (68%/63%) and commercial radio news (68%/55%). Comments »

  • Nov, 2010

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    Media Ownership – James Packer

    Q. James Packer recently bought a major shareholding in Channel 10. Should James Packer be allowed to become a major shareholder in Channel 10 while he is also a major shareholder in Foxtel?

      Total Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens
    Should be allowed 28% 27% 36% 18%
    Should not be allowed 24% 27% 21% 29%
    Don’t care 38% 36% 36% 46%
    Don’t know 10% 10% 7% 7%

     Nearly half either don’t care or don’t know whether James Packer should be allowed to become a majority shareholder in Channel 10. Of those with an opinion, views are split 28% should be allowed and 24% should not. 36% of those on low incomes (under $600pw) think he should not be allowed. Comments »

  • Nov, 2010

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    Media Ownership – Rupert Murdoch

    Q. Rupert Murdoch owns most of Australia’s metropolitan newspapers including the Australian, Herald Sun, the Telegraph and the Courier Mail. Should the Government allow one company to own the majority of Australia’s major newspapers?

      Total Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens
    Should allow 15% 13% 20% 12%
    Should not allow 50% 56% 47% 56%
    Don’t care 26% 24% 25% 26%
    Don’t know 9% 8% 8% 6%

     50% think Rupert Murdoch should not be allowed to own the majority of Australia’s major newspapers and only 15% think he should be allowed. Those most strongly opposed were aged 55+ (61%) and people earning over $1,600pw (55%). Comments »

  • Nov, 2010

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    Trust in TV News and Current Affairs

    Q. How much trust do you have in the news and current affairs on the following TV channels?

      A lot of trust Some trust Not much trust Don’t know
    ABC 42% 42% 9% 6%
    Channel 7 8% 53% 33% 6%
    Channel 9 8% 54% 31% 6%
    Channel 10 7% 55% 31% 6%
    Sky News 12% 40% 17% 31%

    42% say they have a lot of trust in the ABC news and current affairs and 42% have some trust. Only 9% have not much trust.

    Levels of trust in the free-to-air commercial channels are similar – less than 10% have a lot of trust and over 30% say they have not much trust in them.

    Sky News is trusted more than the other commercial channels – 12% say they have a lot of trust and only 17% have not much trust.

    Highest levels of trust in the ABC are shown by men (47% a lot of trust), Greens voters (62%) and Labor voters (48%) and those on income over $1,600pw (49%). Comments »

  • Jun, 2010

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    Trust in Groups

    Q. And how much trust do you have in the following groups to represent the interests of people like you?

    Total a lot/some trust A lot of trust Some trust A little trust No trust at all Don’t know
    Environment groups 38% 8% 30% 28% 22% 11%
    Unions 33% 8% 25% 27% 30% 10%
    Business lobby groups 21% 4% 17% 30% 35% 15%
    Religious groups 20% 5% 15% 24% 43% 13%
    Mining companies 20% 2% 18% 27% 40% 13%
    Banks 15% 2% 13% 26% 49% 10%
    The media 14% 1% 13% 33% 43% 9%

    38% said they have a lot or some trust in environment groups and 33% have a lot/some trust in unions. Banks (15%) and the media (14%) were the least trusted groups.

    49% had no trust at all in banks and 43% had no trust at all in religious groups and the media.

    51% of Labor voters have trust in unions and 47% have trust in environment groups. The most trusted groups for Liberal/National voters are mining companies (32%) and business lobby groups (31%). Comments »

  • May, 2010

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    Media Coverage of Politicians’ Private Lives

    Q. There have been some recent situations where a politician has resigned from their position or their party after some aspects of their sexual behaviour were made public by the media. Is it appropriate for the media to reveal details of a political figure’s private life?

    Yes, in all circumstances 12%
    Yes, in some circumstances 42%
    No, not at all 38%
    Don’t know 8%

    A majority (54%) believe it is appropriate for the media to reveal details of a political figure’s personal life in some or all circumstances. 12% think details should be revealed in all circumstances and 42% in some circumstances. 38% say details of a political figure’s personal life should not be revealed at all. 64% of Liberal/National voters and 50% of Labor voters approved revealing details of political figure’s personal life in some or all circumstances.  Greens voters were split 50% some/all, 50% not at all. There were no substantial demographic differences. Comments »

  • May, 2010

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    Media Coverage of Political Figures Private Lives

    If answered “in some circumstances” –

    Q. Is it appropriate for the media to reveal details of a political figure’s private life in any of the following circumstances?

      Yes No Don’t know
    Where there is a public interest due to impact on the politician’s work or taxpayers’ resources 92% 5% 3%
    Where the politician has acted in a way clearly at odds with their publicly expressed views 88% 8% 4%
    Where a politician’s personal choices are unusual or not considered mainstream 20% 67% 14%

    Sample = 457

    The majority of those who approved revealing details in some circumstances agreed that details could be revealed where there is a public interest due to impact on the politician’s work or taxpayers’ resources (92%) or where the politician has acted in a way clearly at odds with their publicly expressed views (88%). However, revealing details where a politician’s personal choices are unusual or not considered mainstream was only acceptable to 20%. Comments »

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