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The majority (66%) of Australians believe that Australian newspapers do not accurately and fairly report the news. Only 25% of Australians said newspapers in Australia accurately and fairly reported the news, with 9% undecided.

Newspapers were rated more inaccurate and unfair in news reporting than both Magazines (56%) and TV Stations (52.5%). Radio was perceived as a more reliable source of news, with people divided on the medium’s accuracy and fairness in news reporting (38.5% yes, 37.5% no, 24% undecided). These are the main findings of a special Morgan Poll conducted for The Reader .

Melbourne ’s Herald Sun (11%) was the most often mentioned Newspaper as not fairly or accurately reporting the news, followed closely by Sydney ’s Daily Telegraph (9%). The Australian was slightly better regarded, with 6% saying it did not report fairly or accurately - on a similar par with Sydney Morning Herald (6%), Brisbane’s Courier Mail (5%) and The Age (4.5%). The Australian Financial Review was the least mentioned national Newspaper, with only 1% of Australians saying it was not accurate or fair in reporting the news. Sixteen per cent of Australians said all Newspapers did not accurately or fairly report the news

‘Women’s’ magazines were mentioned most often as the Magazines most “inaccurate” and “unfair” in reporting news. Woman’s Day (11.5%) topped the list, followed by Woman’s Weekly (9.5%) and New Idea (8.5%). Whilst 9.5% of Australians believe all Magazines do not accurately or fairly report the news, current affairs Magazines such as The Bulletin (2%) and Time Magazine (1%) were the least mentioned Magazines as inaccurately and unfairly reporting the news.

The trend was similar with TV stations, with more Australians regarding commercial TV Stations (16.5%) as not accurately and fairly reporting the news, followed by the ABC (6.5%) and SBS (2.5%). Specifically, Channel 9 was mentioned by almost a one-in-five (21.5%) respondents, followed by Channel 7 (20.5%) and Channel 10 (17.5%).

Whilst the number of Australians who mentioned specific Radio Stations or Presenters was low compared to other media, John Laws was mentioned most often as not accurately or fairly reporting the news (6.5%) followed by Alan Jones at 5.5%. The ‘talk-back’ hosts’ affiliated stations were not far down the list, with 2UE mentioned by 3.5% of Australians, and 2GB mentioned by 3% of Australians. Four per cent of people nominated all commercial Radio Stations as not accurately or fairly reporting the news, whilst 5.5% said all Radio Stations.

These are the findings of a special telephone Morgan Poll conducted August 4 - 8 with an Australia-wide cross-section of 621 people aged 14+.

Gary Morgan : Office (03) 9224 5213 Mobile 0411 129 094 Home (03) 9419 3242

Michele Levine: Office (03) 9224 5215   Mobile 0411 129 093   Home (03) 9817 3066

ALL MEDIA

Table 1. People surveyed were asked: "In your opinion, do all newspapers/magazines/TV stations/radio stations in Australia accurately and fairly report the news, or not?"

	August 4-8, 2004
	Newspapers	Magazines	TV Stations	Radio
	%	%	%	%
No, not all accurately and fairly report the news	66	56	52.5	37.5
Yes, all accurately and fairly report the news	25	16	41	38.5
Can't say	9	28	6.5	24
Total	100	100	100	100

NEWSPAPERS

Table 2. People surveyed were then asked: "Which newspapers do you believe do not accurately and fairly report the news? Which others?"

	August 4-8, 2004
	%
All/Most of them	17
Herald Sun	11
Daily Telegraph	9
The Australian	6
Sydney Morning Herald	6
Courier Mail	5
The Age	4.5
West Australian	4
Adelaide Advertiser	3
Sunday Times	2
Sunday Mail	1.5
Australian Financial Review	1
The Mercury	1
Canberra Times	1
Murdoch papers	0.5
Fairfax papers	*
Other	5
Total Answers#	77.5
Total mentioned Newspapers	66
Can't say	13

#Note: Some respondents named more than one newspaper  *Result less than 0.5% 

MAGAZINES

Table 3. People surveyed were then asked: "Which magazines do you believe do not accurately and fairly report the news? Which others?"

	August 4-8, 2004
	%
All/Most of them	10.5
"Women's" magazines	8.5
Woman's Day	11.5
Woman's Weekly	9.5
New Idea	8.5
Who	3
Bulletin	2
Cosmopolitan	1.5
Cleo	1
Time	1
NW	0.5
Dolly	0.5
Other	3.5
Total Answers#	61.5
Total mentioned Magazines	56
Can't say	19.5

#Note: Some respondents named more than one magazine

TV STATIONS

Table 4. People surveyed were then asked: "Which TV stations do you believe do not accuratley and fairly report the news? Which others?"

	August 4-8, 2004
	%
All commercial TV stations	16.5
Channel 9	21.5
Channel 7	20.5
Channel 10	17.5
ABC	6.5
SBS	2.5
WIN	1
NBN	0.5
Prime	0.5
SKY	0.5
Capital	0.5
GTS	0.5
GWN	0.5
Impaja	0.5
Southern Cross	0.5
Other	3
Total Answers#	93
Total mentioned TV Stations	52.5
Can't say	6

#Note: Some respondents named more than one TV station

RADIO STATIONS OR PRESENTERS

Table 5. People surveyed were then asked: "Which radio stastions or presenters do you believe do not accurately and fairly report the news? Which others?"

	August 4-8, 2004
	%
All radio stations	5.5
All/Most commercial radio stations	4
John Laws	6.5
Alan Jones	5.5
2UE	3.5
2GB	3
Triple M	2
ABC radio	1.5
3AW	1.5
Today FM	1
106.5	1
Triple J	1
NOVA FM	1
Neil Mitchell	0.5
Howard Sattler	0.5
Talk back radio	0.5
96 FM	0.5
Eoin Cameron	0.5
Paul Murray	0.5
Star FM	0.5
SA FM	0.5
Jeremy Cordeaux	*
Jon Faine	*
Leon Byrner	*
FRESH FM	*
Other	3.5
Total Answers#	44.5
Total mentioned Radio Stations	37.5
Can't say	10.5

#Note: Some respondents named more than one radio station  *Results less than 0.5%

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