A Gallup poll, out last week --- understandably without much broadcast or print coverage --- showed Americans' confidence in the media's ability to report "the news fully, accurately and fairly" slipped to 40 percent, matching the low two years ago and down from 55 percent in 1999, notes Grumpy Editor.
Gallup found “Americans are most likely to feel the news media are too liberal (44 percent) rather than too conservative.” That was on par with 2006 and down from 46 percent last year.
One in three (34 percent) said the media are "just about right" in terms of coverage, down from 37 percent last year, while 19 percent thought media were too conservative, up from 13 percent last year.
Summarized Gallup: “Though a sizable percentage of Americans continue to have a great deal or fair amount of trust in the media, Americans' overall trust in the Fourth Estate continues to be significantly lower now than it was 10 to 15 years ago.”
Meanwhile, a major roadblock in reporting news developments fully stems from a growing lack of access and transparency undermining journalists' work.
Editors and reporters brought out that problem, with some blaming the current White House for setting standards for secrecy that are spreading nationwide, at a convention of the American Society of News Editors, the Associated Press Media Editors and the Associated Press Photo Managers.
AP reporter Michael Tarm said Brian Carovillano, AP managing editor for U.S. news, noted, “The White House push to limit access and reduce transparency has essentially served as the secrecy road map for all kinds of organizations --- from local and state governments to universities and even sporting events.”
IN CASE YOUR FAVORITE NEWS OUTLETS MISSED THESE…
Here today, gone tomorrow: House and Senate members, after a five-week recess that included August and a quick two weeks (actually eight days) back on the job in Washington, departed the nation’s capital at the end of last week, returning in six weeks after the November elections. That’s two weeks of work in a quarter…The New York Times was the latest to switch to Islamic State in referring to the terrorist group also known as ISIS or ISIL, joining other news organizations such as The Washington Post, The Associated Press, Reuters and The Wall Street Journal in doing so…Grabbing more TV exposure than the president: NFL commissioner Roger Goodell’s 45-minute press conference Friday on off-field player misconduct was carried by all major broadcast and cable networks --- even interrupting CNBC’s financial news coverage…Where are the sleuths to nail the bad guys? Bloomberg Businessweek detailed an underground Web site that alerted cybercriminals to new stolen credit card numbers available for bulk purchase…While some folks feel a growing financial pinch with higher price tags, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said the consumer price index fell 0.2 percent in August, bringing a fresh round of describing inflation as muted, dormant and, yes, even bringing back the long-overused “tame.” However, inflation did show up with the average price for a pound of ground beef reaching $4.013, a record high…Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), trying to boost his newsletter readership, e-mailed three easy questions seeking a yes or no (among them: Do you believe college graduates should be able to refinance their student loans?). Alongside an asterisk: “By answering this survey, you are subscribing to my newsletter”…A press release on a “legendary restaurant” opening in a new Beverly Hills location mentioned it will be “modern and sexy” and “will reflect the sophistication of Beverly Hills” while “housed in a vintage building on Canon Drive”…A touching story with photos on service dogs and their role with those physically impaired, including returning servicemen with missing limbs, appeared in The Dallas Morning News last week. Read it here.
Summing up the situation in Washington and security, radio talk show host Mark Levin, on Sean Hannity’s Fox News program declared: "We're surrounded by knuckleheads, and the problem is they’re supposed to be protecting the country."
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