Keeping the Media Honest

I would first like to call attention to my incredible use of html here. Second, I would like to talk about how interesting these poll numbers are. Reading books like Out of Order and Breaking the News for another class, reporters coming off as infinitely cynical and above criticism by anyone who is not a journalist. This surprises me at the general level of support that journalists give to blogs in keep them honest. I think it speaks very well on the staying power of blogs as well as the overall effectiveness of them.

I stole this poll from Hotline and here is the vital info for anyone who missed it. The following is a comparison between two polls, both conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates Int'l. The general public survey was conducted 3/3-4/5; surveyed 1,500 adults; margin of error +/- 3% (release, 6/13). Press survey: conducted 3/7-5/2; surveyed 673 journalists; margin of error +/- 4%

Asked of the media only             
Blogger's Impact On Quality Of
News The Public Receives 
Positive Impact           45%    
Negative Impact           38    

Blogs Made Journalists More/Less
Accountable?              Pub Med
More accountable          43% 51%
No difference             46  44
Less accountable           5   3