Large Majority Of Australians Think The Media Is "Often Biased"
| Finding No. 4195 -
August 14, 2007 |
A large majority of Australians believe that most forms of media in Australia are ‘often biased’, a special Roy Morgan telephone survey finds.
The survey also finds a majority of Australians believe newspaper and TV journalists and talk-back radio announcers ‘often get their facts wrong’. Large majorities believe that newspaper and TV journalists ‘invade people’s privacy unnecessarily’.
However, they are divided on whether the media are ‘too left-wing leaning’ or ‘too right-wing leaning’.
Media Bias
A large 85% (down 1% since September 2004) of Australians believe that Newspaper journalists are often biased, 74% (up 1%) believe TV reporters are often biased and 69% (down 6%) believe that Talk-back radio announcers are often biased.
The only form of mainstream media to escape the condemnation of the majority (and only just) is the Internet — 49% (up 8%) of Australians believe Internet sites are often biased.
Of all journalists, it is the Talk-back hosts who are most likely to be regarded as often biased. Almost a quarter of Australians (23.5%, down 5%) think John Laws is often biased (29.5% in NSW, down 7.5%) and more than one-in-five (20.5%, down 5.5%) believe that Alan Jones is often biased (29.5% in NSW, down 12%).
Elsewhere, 4.5% (up 1%) of Australians identify Neil Mitchell (17.5% in Victoria, up 5.5%), and 2.5% (up 1%) identify Derryn Hinch (6% in Victoria, down 4.5%) as often biased.
Andrew Bolt is the Newspaper journalist most likely to be identified as often biased with 3.5% (unchanged) of Australians identifying him thus. In his home state of Victoria, 11.5% (up 1%) regard Bolt as often biased.
Sydney-based journalist Piers Akerman is regarded as often biased by 2% (down 1%) of all Australians and by 3.5% (down 5%) of those living in New South Wales and the ACT. One percent of Australians believe Gerard Henderson is often biased, while 1% also believes that the Daily Telegraph is often biased (3% in NSW).
On television the Today Tonight team have the greatest integrity dilemma with 3.5% of Australians identifying them as often biased, just ahead of the A Current Affair team (3%, up 2%).
Overall, Channel 9 (1%) is more likely to be seen as often biased when compared to Channel 7 (0.5%). The ABC’s Kerry O’Brien is regarded as often biased by 3% (down 1.5%) of Australians.
Media Accuracy
When it comes to the perceived accuracy of Australia’s journalists, Newspaper journalists are considered by 62% (down 1%) of Australians to often get facts wrong, while more than half of Australians said TV reporters and journalists (55%, up 1%) and Talk-back radio announcers (51%, down 4%) often get facts wrong.
Across all media John Laws, whom 10.5% (down 2.5%) of Australians regard as often getting his facts wrong (16.5% in NSW, down 4.5%), and Alan Jones (10%, down 3.5%; 16.5% in NSW, down 6.5%) are the most likely to be regarded as often getting their facts wrong.
Invading Privacy
Television reporters and journalists (77%, up 3%) took top place in regards to invading people’s privacy unnecessarily. Newspaper journalists (69%, unchanged) were the next highest, while only 22% (down 4%) of Australians believed Talk-back radio announcers invaded people’s privacy unnecessarily.
TV current affairs programs and reporters were mentioned most often as unnecessarily invading people’s privacy, with the Today Tonight team mentioned by 6.5% (up 5%) of Australians and A Current Affair mentioned by 4% (up 2%).
Right-wing or Left-wing?
Strangely, 2.5% (unchanged) of Australians think John Laws is too left-leaning and 7% (down 2%) believe he is too right-leaning. Similarly, 1.5% (down 1%) believe Alan Jones is too left-leaning and 9% (down 4.5%) believe he is too right-leaning.
Gary Morgan says:
“Being provocative is a mandatory characteristic for journalists, so it would not disappoint John Laws (23.5%) and Alan Jones (20.5%) that a significant number of Australians believe they are ‘often biased’. In their home state of New South Wales an even larger proportion (both 29.5%) believe they are ‘often biased’. Laws and Jones will be hoping for an even higher result in the next Roy Morgan image of the media survey!
“Talkback radio announcers are the most provocative among all types of journalists, although television reporters and journalists (77%) took top place in regards to ‘invading people’s privacy unnecessarily’.
“The Today Tonight (3.5%) team came out on top amongst television reporters and journalists who are ‘often biased’, while 3% said Today Tonight ‘often getting their facts wrong’, however, many more (6.5%) said they ‘invade people’s privacy unnecessarily’. Its closest competitor — A Current Affair — was second of all the shows in the category.
“The Herald-Sun’s Andrew Bolt (3.5%; 11.5% in Victoria) is the ‘top’ Australian newspaper journalist viewed as ‘often biased’, followed by Piers Akerman (2%; 3.5% in NSW) — no doubt Akerman would be disappointed Andrew Bolt has increased his lead!
“Journalists who received high results in this Roy Morgan survey will undoubtedly be pleased as Australians must be taking notice — that is listening to or reading what they’re saying — regardless of whether they agree with it or not.”
These are the findings of a special telephone Morgan Poll conducted July 25/26, 2007, with an Australia-wide cross-section of 663 people aged 14 and over.
For further information:
Gary Morgan: Office +61 3 9224 5213 Mobile +61 411 129 094
Michele Levine: Office +61 3 9224 5215 Mobile +61 411 129 093
Table 1 — Media Bias
Respondents were asked: “Do you believe Newspaper Journalists/ TV Reporters or Journalists / Talk-back Radio Announcers/ Internet Sites are often biased?”
|
|
Newspaper
Journalists |
TV Reporters
or Journalists |
Talk-back
Radio Announcers |
Internet
Sites |
|
|
Sep 1/2,
2004 |
July 25/26,
2007 |
Sep 1/2,
2004 |
July 25/26,
2007 |
Sep 1/2,
2004 |
July 25/26,
2007 |
Sep 1/2,
2004 |
July 25/26,
2007 |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
Yes, are often biased |
86 |
85 |
73 |
74 |
75 |
69 |
41 |
49 |
|
No, not often biased |
11 |
11 |
23 |
19 |
16 |
20 |
14 |
17 |
|
Can't say |
3 |
4 |
4 |
7 |
9 |
11 |
45 |
34 |
|
Total |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
Table 2
Respondents were then asked: “Which Newspaper Journalists specifically?”
| |
Most often mentioned
Newspaper Journalists |
|
| |
Sep 1/2, 2004 |
July 25/26, 2007 |
|
|
|
% |
% |
|
|
Andrew Bolt |
3.5 |
3.5 |
11.5% in Victoria (up 1% since 2004) |
|
Piers Akerman |
3 |
2 |
3.5% in NSW (down 5% since 2004) |
|
Gerard Henderson |
- |
1 |
|
|
Daily Telegraph |
- |
1 |
3% in NSW |
|
All / Most |
- |
1 |
|
|
Miranda Devine |
1.5 |
0.5 |
|
|
Dennis Shanahan |
- |
0.5 |
|
|
Phillip Adams |
1 |
^ |
|
|
Alan Jones |
1 |
- |
|
|
Someone else mentioned |
10.5 |
20 |
|
|
Can’t say |
69 |
68 |
|
|
Total Yes, often biased* |
86 |
85 |
|
* Note: Some people gave more than one response
^ Less than 0.5%
Table 3
Respondents were then asked: “Which TV Reporters or Journalists specifically?”
|
|
Most often mentioned
TV Reporters or Journalists |
|
|
Sep 1/2, 2004 |
July 25/26, 2007 |
|
|
% |
% |
|
Today Tonight / Anna Coren /
Naomi Robson / Leigh McClusky |
^ |
3.5 |
|
Kerry O’Brien |
4.5 |
3 |
|
A Current Affair / Tracy Grimshaw |
1 |
3 |
|
All / Most |
- |
1.5 |
|
Current Affairs programs (unspecified) |
- |
1 |
|
Tony Jones (ABC) |
- |
1 |
|
Channel 9 |
^ |
1 |
|
Ray Martin |
6 |
0.5 |
|
Laurie Oakes |
2 |
0.5 |
|
60 Minutes |
- |
0.5 |
|
Channel 7 |
- |
0.5 |
|
Someone else mentioned |
9.5 |
13 |
|
Can’t say |
53.5 |
56.5 |
|
Total Yes, often biased* |
73 |
74 |
*Note: Some people gave more than one response
^ Less than 1%
Table 4
Respondents were then asked: “Which Talk-back Radio Announcers specifically?”
| |
Most often mentioned
Talk-back Radio Announcers |
|
| |
Sep 1/2, 2004 |
July 25/26, 2007 |
|
| |
% |
% |
|
|
John Laws |
28.5 |
23.5 |
29.5% in NSW (down 7.5%) |
|
Alan Jones |
26 |
20.5 |
29.5% in NSW (down 12%) |
|
Neil Mitchell |
3.5 |
4.5 |
17.5% in Victoria (up 5.5%) |
|
Derryn Hinch |
3.5 |
2.5 |
6% in Victoria (up 4.5%) |
|
Ray Hadley |
- |
1.5 |
5% in NSW |
|
Stan Zemanek |
3.5 |
1 |
|
|
Mike Carlton |
- |
1 |
|
|
Howard Sattler |
- |
1 |
|
|
All / Most |
- |
1 |
|
|
Jon Faine |
- |
0.5 |
|
|
Bob Francis |
- |
0.5 |
|
|
Someone else mentioned |
13 |
6 |
|
|
Can’t say |
28.5 |
29.5 |
|
|
Total Yes, often biased* |
75 |
69 |
|
*Note: Some people gave more than one response
Table 5
Respondents were then asked: “Which Internet Sites specifically?”
|
|
Most often mentioned
Internet Sites |
|
|
Sep 1/2, 2004 |
July 25/26, 2007 |
|
|
% |
% |
|
Ninemsn |
3 |
4 |
|
Yahoo.com.au |
0.5 |
2.5 |
|
All / Most |
- |
2 |
|
Google |
- |
1.5 |
|
ABC.net.au |
1 |
1 |
|
YouTube |
- |
1 |
|
Advertising Sites / Pop-ups /
Any Site Promoting Themselves |
0.5 |
0.5 |
|
Fairfax Digital (F2) |
1.5 |
0.5 |
|
MySpace |
- |
0.5 |
|
News.com.au |
- |
0.5 |
|
Foxnews.com |
- |
0.5 |
|
Someone else mentioned |
4.5 |
7.5 |
|
Can’t say |
32.5 |
33.5 |
|
Total Yes, often biased* |
41 |
49 |
*Note: Some people gave more than one response
Table 6 — Often Get Facts Wrong
Respondents were asked: “Do you believe Newspaper Journalists/ TV Reporters or Journalists/ Talk-back Radio Announcers/ Internet Sites often get their facts wrong?”
|
|
Newspaper
Journalists |
TV Reporters
or Journalists |
Talk-back
Radio Announcers |
Internet
Sites |
|
|
Sep 1/2,
2004 |
July 25/26,
2007 |
Sep 1/2,
2004 |
July 25/26,
2007 |
Sep 1/2,
2004 |
July 25/26,
2007 |
Sep 1/2,
2004 |
July 25/26,
2007 |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
Yes, often get facts wrong |
63 |
62 |
54 |
55 |
55 |
51 |
38 |
45 |
|
No, don’t often get facts wrong |
30 |
30 |
38 |
37 |
30 |
34 |
16 |
21 |
|
Can't say |
7 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
15 |
15 |
46 |
34 |
|
Total |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
Table 7
Respondents were then asked: “Which Newspaper Journalists specifically?”
| |
Most often mentioned
Newspaper Journalists |
|
| |
Sep 1/2, 2004 |
July 25/26, 2007 |
|
| |
% |
% |
|
|
All / Most |
- |
2 |
|
|
Andrew Bolt |
- |
1 |
2.5% in Victoria |
|
Daily Telegraph |
- |
1 |
3% in NSW |
|
Sydney Morning Herald |
0.5 |
0.5 |
|
|
The Australian |
- |
0.5 |
|
|
Courier Mail |
0.5 |
^ |
|
|
Local newspaper writers |
0.5 |
^ |
|
|
Piers Akerman |
0.5 |
^ |
|
|
Jill Singer |
0.5 |
- |
|
|
Someone else mentioned |
3.5 |
3.5 |
|
|
Can’t say |
57.5 |
55.5 |
|
|
Total Yes, often get facts wrong* |
63 |
62 |
|
* Note: Some people gave more than one response
^ Less than 0.5%
Table 8
Respondents were then asked: “Which TV Reporters or Journalists specifically?”
|
|
Most often mentioned
TV Reporters or Journalists |
|
|
Sep 1/2, 2004 |
July 25/26, 2007 |
|
|
% |
% |
|
Today Tonight / Anna Coren /
Naomi Robson / Leigh McClusky |
- |
3 |
|
A Current Affair / Tracy Grimshaw |
0.5 |
2.5 |
|
Current Affairs programs (unspecified) |
- |
1.5 |
|
All / Most |
- |
1 |
|
Commercial TV channels |
0.5 |
0.5 |
|
Ray Martin |
2.5 |
- |
|
Mike Munro |
0.5 |
- |
|
Someone else mentioned |
4.5 |
3 |
|
Can’t say |
46.5 |
47.5 |
|
Total Yes, often get facts wrong* |
54 |
55 |
* Note: Some people gave more than one response
Table 9
Respondents were then asked: “Which Talk-back Radio Announcers specifically?”
| |
Most often mentioned
Talk-back Radio Announcers |
|
| |
Sep 1/2, 2004 |
July 25/26, 2007 |
|
| |
% |
% |
|
|
John Laws |
13 |
10.5 |
16.5% in NSW (down 4.5%) |
|
Alan Jones |
13.5 |
10 |
16.5% in NSW (down 6.5%) |
|
Neil Mitchell |
1.5 |
2 |
6.5% in Victoria (up 1%) |
|
Derryn Hinch |
0.5 |
1 |
|
|
All / Most |
- |
1 |
|
|
Howard Sattler |
- |
0.5 |
|
|
Mike Carlton |
- |
0.5 |
|
|
Steve Price |
- |
0.5 |
|
|
Kyle and Jackie O |
- |
0.5 |
|
|
Bob Francis |
- |
0.5 |
|
|
Jon Faine |
- |
0.5 |
|
|
Stan Zemanek |
2 |
^ |
|
|
Someone else mentioned |
5 |
3 |
|
|
Can’t say |
33.5 |
31.5 |
|
|
Total Yes, often get facts wrong* |
55 |
51 |
|
* Note: Some people gave more than one response
^ Less than 0.5%
Table 10
Respondents were then asked: “Which Internet Sites specifically?”
|
|
Most often mentioned
Internet Sites |
|
|
Sep 1/2, 2004 |
July 25/26, 2007 |
|
|
% |
% |
|
Wikipedia |
- |
3.5 |
|
Ninemsn |
2 |
1.5 |
|
Yahoo.com.au |
0.5 |
1 |
|
Fairfax Digital (F2) |
0.5 |
0.5 |
|
ABC.net.au |
0.5 |
0.5 |
|
Google |
- |
0.5 |
|
BBC |
- |
0.5 |
|
YouTube |
- |
0.5 |
|
Foxnews.com |
- |
0.5 |
|
All / Most |
- |
0.5 |
|
News sites (unspecified) |
- |
0.5 |
|
Medical Sites |
0.5 |
- |
|
Someone else mentioned |
4 |
4 |
|
Can’t say |
31.5 |
33 |
|
Total Yes, often get facts wrong* |
38 |
45 |
* Note: Some people gave more than one response
Table 11 — Invade People’s Privacy Unnecessarily
Respondents were asked: “Do you believe Newspaper Journalists/ TV Reporters or Journalists/ Talk-back Radio Announcers/ Internet Sites invade people’s privacy unnecessarily?”
|
|
Newspaper
Journalists |
TV Reporters
or Journalists |
Talk-back
Radio Announcers |
Internet
Sites |
|
|
Sep 1/2,
2004 |
July 25/26,
2007 |
Sep 1/2,
2004 |
July 25/26,
2007 |
Sep 1/2,
2004 |
July 25/26,
2007 |
Sep 1/2,
2004 |
July 25/26,
2007 |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
Yes, invade unnecessarily |
69 |
69 |
74 |
77 |
26 |
22 |
21 |
28 |
|
No, do not invade unnecessarily |
25 |
24 |
23 |
19 |
62 |
66 |
38 |
42 |
|
Can't say |
6 |
7 |
3 |
4 |
12 |
12 |
41 |
30 |
|
Total |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
Table 12
Respondents were then asked: “Which Newspaper Journalists specifically?”
|
|
Most often mentioned
Newspaper Journalists |
|
|
Sep 1/2, 2004 |
July 25/26, 2007 |
|
|
% |
% |
|
All / Most |
- |
2.5 |
|
Daily Telegraph |
- |
1 |
|
Celebrity reporters |
0.5 |
0.5 |
|
Herald Sun |
0.5 |
0.5 |
|
The Age |
- |
0.5 |
|
A Current Affair |
- |
0.5 |
|
Current Affairs programs (unspecified) |
- |
0.5 |
|
Piers Akerman |
0.5 |
- |
|
Local newspaper writers |
0.5 |
- |
|
Sydney Morning Herald |
0.5 |
- |
|
Someone else mentioned |
2.5 |
3 |
|
Can’t say |
65 |
61.5 |
|
Total Yes, invade people’s privacy unnecessarily* |
69 |
69 |
* Note: Some people gave more than one response
Table 13
Respondents were then asked: “Which TV Reporters or Journalists specifically?”
|
|
Most often mentioned
TV Reporters or Journalists |
|
|
Sep 1/2, 2004 |
July 25/26, 2007 |
|
|
% |
% |
|
Today Tonight / Naomi Robson |
2.5 |
6.5 |
|
A Current Affair |
2 |
4.5 |
|
Current affairs programs (unspecified) |
1 |
2.5 |
|
Channel 9 |
- |
1.5 |
|
Channel 7 |
- |
1.5 |
|
Ray Martin |
4 |
0.5 |
|
60 Minutes |
- |
0.5 |
|
Celebrity reporters |
- |
0.5 |
|
Someone else mentioned |
7 |
15 |
|
Can’t say |
62.5 |
60.5 |
|
Total Yes, invade people’s privacy unnecessarily* |
74 |
77 |
* Note: Some people gave more than one response
Table 14
Respondents were then asked: “Which Talk-back Radio Announcers specifically?”
| |
Most often mentioned
Talk-back Radio Announcers |
|
| |
Sep 1/2, 2004 |
July 25/26, 2007 |
|
| |
% |
% |
|
|
Alan Jones |
5 |
4.5 |
7.5% in NSW (down 0.5%) |
|
John Laws |
5 |
4 |
5% in NSW (down 2.5%) |
|
Derryn Hinch |
1 |
1 |
1.5% in Victoria (down 2%) |
|
Neil Mitchell |
1 |
0.5 |
|
|
Mike Carlton |
- |
0.5 |
|
|
Stan Zemanek |
1 |
^ |
|
|
Someone else mentioned |
1.5 |
1 |
|
|
Can’t say |
17 |
15.5 |
|
|
Total Yes, invade people’s privacy unnecessarily* |
26 |
22 |
|
* Note: Some people gave more than one response
^ Less than 0.5%
Table 15
Respondents were then asked: “Which Internet Sites specifically?”
|
|
Most often mentioned
Internet Sites |
|
|
Sep 1/2, 2004 |
July 25/26, 2007 |
|
|
% |
% |
|
YouTube |
- |
1.5 |
|
Ninemsn |
0.5 |
1 |
|
Yahoo.com.au |
- |
1 |
|
MySpace |
- |
1 |
|
Google |
- |
0.5 |
|
Facebook |
- |
0.5 |
|
Pornographic Sites |
1 |
^ |
|
Advertising Sites / Pop-ups /
Any Site Promoting Themselves |
0.5 |
^ |
|
SPAM |
0.5 |
- |
|
Hotmail |
0.5 |
- |
|
Someone else mentioned |
2 |
2.5 |
|
Can’t say |
17 |
21.5 |
|
Total Yes, invade people’s privacy unnecessarily* |
21 |
28 |
* Note: Some people gave more than one response
^ Less than 0.5%
Table 16 —Left-wing leaning
Respondents were asked: “Do you believe Newspaper Journalists/ TV Reporters or Journalists/ Talk-back Radio Announcers/ Internet Sites are too left-wing leaning?”
|
|
Newspaper
Journalists |
TV Reporters
or Journalists |
Talk-back
Radio Announcers |
Internet
Sites |
|
|
Sep 1/2,
2004 |
July 25/26,
2007 |
Sep 1/2,
2004 |
July 25/26,
2007 |
Sep 1/2,
2004 |
July 25/26,
2007 |
Sep 1/2,
2004 |
July 25/26,
2007 |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
Yes, too left-wing leaning |
22 |
24 |
20 |
20 |
17 |
15 |
5 |
7 |
|
No, not too left-wing leaning |
55 |
48 |
58 |
53 |
57 |
57 |
43 |
46 |
|
Can't say |
23 |
28 |
22 |
27 |
26 |
28 |
52 |
47 |
|
Total |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
Table 17
Respondents were then asked: “Which Newspaper Journalists specifically?”
|
|
Most often mentioned
Newspaper Journalists |
|
|
Sep 1/2, 2004 |
July 25/26, 2007 |
|
|
% |
% |
|
All / Most |
- |
0.5 |
|
Named journalists including Andrew Bolt, Bridget Sheridan & Cameron England |
^ |
0.5 |
|
The Age |
0.5 |
0.5 |
|
Jill Singer |
0.5 |
- |
|
Someone else mentioned |
1.5 |
8.5 |
|
Can’t say |
18.5 |
20.5 |
|
Total Yes, are too left-wing leaning* |
22 |
24 |
* Note: Some people gave more than one response
^ Less than 0.5%
Table 18
Respondents were then asked: “Which TV Reporters or Journalists specifically?”
|
|
Most often mentioned
TV Reporters or Journalists |
|
|
Sep 1/2, 2004 |
July 25/26, 2007 |
|
|
% |
% |
|
Kerry O’Brien |
1.5 |
1.5 |
|
ABC TV |
0.5 |
0.5 |
|
Tony Jones (ABC) |
- |
0.5 |
|
A Current Affair |
- |
0.5 |
|
60 Minutes |
- |
0.5 |
|
Ray Martin |
1 |
- |
|
Laurie Oakes |
0.5 |
- |
|
Steve Lieberman |
0.5 |
- |
|
Someone else mentioned |
1.5 |
4 |
|
Can’t say |
15 |
16 |
|
Total Yes, are too left-wing leaning* |
20 |
20 |
* Note: Some people gave more than one response
Table 19
Respondents were then asked: “Which Talk-back Radio Announcers specifically?”
|
