1. Washington News Council July 2001 ELWAY RESEARCH, Inc. 12 The Daily Local News: Most Watched Television; Fewer than Half Read Newspaper or Listened to Radio News Q1:I am going to read you a list of news and information sources. As I read each one, tell me how often, if at all, you look at or listen to that source for state and local news. Tell me whether you use that source every day, 2 or 3 times a week, once a week or so, less than once a week, or never. Those most likely to use 2-3 media on a daily basis were: Residents of King Co. (57%), compared to those in the Central Sound area (49%), Western (47%) and Eastern (47%) Washington; People 51 and older (69%), compared to those 50 and younger (42%); and Democrats (61%), compared to Republicans (43%) and Independents (48%). Those most likely to use only one medium on a daily basis were : Those 50 and younger (41%), compared to those 51 and older (33%); and Republicans (45%) and Independents (41%), compared to 27% of Democrats. Those most likely to use no media on a daily basis were: Those under the age of 36 (24%), compared to those 36 and older (6%); and Respondents who said they listen to no call-in talk radio (16%), compared to those who listen at least once a week (6%).

2. Washington News Council July 2001 ELWAY RESEARCH, Inc. 13 About Half Believed Local Media Share Their Communitys Beliefs and Values Share the same beliefs and values as most people in your community. Do not share the same beliefs and values as most people in your community. Dont know / no answer Those most likely to say local media share their beliefs and values were: Those 50 and younger (58%), compared to those 51 and older (46%); Individuals with more than a high school education (55%), compared to those with high school or less (50%); Those who believe stories about them or an acquaintance in the media were fair and accurate (57%), compared to those who felt stories were not fair and accurate (32%); and Democrats (60%), compared to Republicans (47%) and Independents (48%). Those most likely to say local media do not share their beliefs and values were: Those who felt a news story about them or an acquaintance was unfair and inaccurate (53%), compared to those who felt a story fair and accurate (23%); Those who listen to call-in talk radio at least once a week (31%), compared to people who listen to no (23%) call-in talk radio; Republicans (38%), compared to Democrats (19%) and Independents (27%). Q2:Do you believe that, in general, the local news media ….

3. Washington News Council July 2001 ELWAY RESEARCH, Inc. 14 Respondents Split on Amount of Press Freedom Too much freedom Not enough freedom About the right amount of freedom Dont know / no answer Those most likely to say the press has too much freedom were: Women (43%), compared to men (32%); Those with a high school education or less (45%), compared to those with more than a high school education (32%); and Those who felt a news story about them or an acquaintance was unfair and inaccurate (52%), compared to those who felt a story was fair and accurate (30%). Q3:As you know, the First Amendment to the U.S. constitution guarantees freedom of the press. At the current time, do you think the press has:

4. Washington News Council July 2001 ELWAY RESEARCH, Inc. 15 Newspapers: Most Said They Cover Important Issues; Split on Accuracy, Balance/Fairness Those most likely to have a higher opinion of local newspapers overall in covering important issues, balance and fairness, and accuracy were: Residents of King County; Women; Those with a graduate or professional degree; Those who felt a news story about them or an acquaintance was very or mostly fair and accurate; Those who said they listen to no talk radio; and Democrats. Those most likely to have a lower opinion of local newspapers overall in covering important issues, balance and fairness, and accuracy were: Men; People under 50 years old; Those with a college degree or less education; Those who felt a news story about them or an acquaintance was not fair and accurate; Daily listeners to call-in talk radio; and Republicans. Q4:For the next questions, I would like you to rate some local news sources as excellent, good, only fair or poor on the way they present news. First, how would you rate your local newspapers in terms of:

5. Washington News Council July 2001 ELWAY RESEARCH, Inc. 16 Television News: Most Said Coverage, Accuracy is Good; Split on Balance/Fairness Q5:For the next questions, I would like you to rate some local news sources as excellent, good, only fair or poor on the way they present news. How would you rate your local television news in terms of: Those most likely to have a higher opinion of local television overall in covering important issues, balance and fairness, and accuracy were: Respondents in Eastern Washington; Women; Those over age 65; People with a high school education or less; Those who felt a news story about them or an acquaintance was mostly or very fair and accurate; Democrats. Those most likely to have a lower opinion of local television overall in covering important issues, balance and fairness, and accuracy were: Men; People under 65 years old; Those with more than a high school education; Those who felt a news story about them or an acquaintance was not fair and accurate; Daily listeners to call-in talk radio; and Republicans and Independents.

6. Washington News Council July 2001 ELWAY RESEARCH, Inc. 17 Radio News: Generally Positive Marks, but High Level of No Opinion Q6:For the next questions, I would like you to rate some local news sources as excellent, good, only fair or poor on the way they present news. First, how would you rate your local radio news in terms of: Those most likely to have a higher opinion of local radio overall in covering important issues, balance and fairness, and accuracy were: People under age 65; Those who felt a news story about them or an acquaintance was mostly or very fair and accurate; and Respondents who said they listen to call-in talk radio at least once a week. Those most likely to have a lower opinion of local radio overall in covering important issues, balance and fairness, and accuracy were: Respondents who felt a news story about them or an acquaintance was not fair and accurate.

7. Washington News Council July 2001 ELWAY RESEARCH, Inc. 18 Nearly All Agreed: The Job of News Organizations is to Gather Facts, Not Interpret Them Q7a:The job of news organizations is to get the facts right, not to interpret those facts. Those most likely to agree strongly were:: Respondents in the Central Sound area (64%), Western (69%) and Eastern (67%) Washington, compared to those in King County (55%); Those who felt a news story about them or an acquaintance was not very fair and accurate (73%), compared to people who felt a story was fair and accurate (66%); and Republicans (67%) and Independents (67%), compared to Democrats (58%). Strongly agree Agree Dont know / no answer Disagree Strongly disagree

8. Washington News Council July 2001 ELWAY RESEARCH, Inc. 19 2 in 3 Skeptical About Accuracy of Media Reports Q7b:I have become more skeptical about the factual accuracy of things I hear or read in the news. Strongly agree Agree Dont know / no answer Disagree Strongly disagree

9. Washington News Council July 2001 ELWAY RESEARCH, Inc. 20 2 in 3 Agreed Govt Should Require Equal Coverage of All Sides of Controversial Issues Q7c:The government should require the news media to give equal coverage to all sides of controversial issues. Those most likely to agree or agree strongly were: Women (77%), compared to 61% of men; Those with some college or less (77%), compared to those with a college degree or more (57%); Those who felt a news story about them or an acquaintance was not very fair and accurate (74%), compared to people who felt a story was fair and accurate (64%); and Democrats (72%) and Independents (70%), compared to Republicans (63%). Those most likely to disagree were: Men (36%), compared to women (20%); People with a college degree or more (40%), compared to those with some college or less (20%); Those who felt a news story about them or an acquaintance was fair and accurate (33%), compared to people who felt a story was not fair and accurate (24%); and Republicans (35%), compared to Democrats (24%) and Independents (29%). Strongly agree Agree Dont know / no answer Disagree Strongly disagree

10. Washington News Council July 2001 ELWAY RESEARCH, Inc. 21 8 in 10 Agreed That News is Sensationalized to Attract More Viewers and Listeners Q7d:News organizations too often sensationalize news stories just to sell more papers or attract more viewers and listeners. Those most likely to agree or agree strongly were: People over age 35 (92%) compared to those 35 or younger (82%); and Respondents with some college or more (92%), compared to those with a high school education or less (85%). Those most likely to disagree were: People 35 or younger (15%), compared to those 35 and older (6%); and Respondents with a high school education or less (12%), compared to those with some college or more (7%). Strongly agree Agree Dont know / no answer Disagree Strongly disagree

11. Washington News Council July 2001 ELWAY RESEARCH, Inc. 22 About Half Said Both Sides of Controversial Issue Should be Presented When Story Runs Q8:In a case where there is a controversial story with two clearly different sides, what should the news organization do if the news reporters are only able to contact one side for comment? Should they…. Those most likely to say the news organization should run the story were: People with a college degree or more (50%), compared to those with some college or less (34%); and Those who felt a news story about them or an acquaintance was fair and accurate (49%), compared to people who felt a story was not fair and accurate (37%). Those most likely to say the news organization should not run the story were: People with some college or less (58%), compared to those with a college degree or more (41%); and Those who felt a news story about them or an acquaintance was not fair and accurate (58%), compared to people who felt a story was fair and accurate (44%). Run story with information they have & try to present other side Not run any story unless they have comments from both sides Dont know / no answer

12. Washington News Council July 2001 ELWAY RESEARCH, Inc. 23 Pluralities Said Local Media Do Poor / Only Fair Job of Correcting Factual Errors Q9:Sometimes factual errors occur in news stories, and sometimes stories are published that are unfair or unbalanced. Overall, how good a job do you think the following news media organizations do of correcting unfair, inaccurate or unbalanced stories when errors occur? Those most likely to say newspapers do good / excellent job of making corrections were: Respondents in King Co. (46%), compared to those in the Central Sound area (39%), Western (37%), or Eastern Washington (33%); Those who felt a news story about them or an acquaintance was fair and accurate (35%), compared to those who felt a story was not fair and accurate (16%); and Democrats (49%), compared to Republicans (31%) and Independents (36%). Those most likely to say television does good / excellent job of making corrections were: People with some college or less (45%), compared to those with a college degree or more (30%); and Democrats (46%) and Republicans (43%), compared to Independents (32%). Those most likely to say radio does good / excellent job of making corrections were: People who listen to call-in talk radio 3-7 days per week (45%), compared to those who listen to call-in talk radio 0-2 days per week (27%).

13. Washington News Council July 2001 ELWAY RESEARCH, Inc. 24 Correcting Factual Errors Increases News Organization Credibility in Eyes of Audience Q10:In your opinion, does the credibility of a news organization increase or decrease when it corrects a news story that was unfair, inaccurate or unbalanced? Those most likely to say credibility increases were: Those with some college or more (84%), compared to those with a high school education or less (70%); Those who felt a news story about them or an acquaintance was fair and accurate (86%), compared to those who felt a story was not fair and accurate (73%); and Republicans (84%) and Independents (84%), compared to Democrats (74%). Those most likely to say credibility decreases were: Those with a high school education or less (14%), compared to those with some college or more (7%). 4% Increase Dont know / no answer No change Decrease

14. Washington News Council July 2001 ELWAY RESEARCH, Inc. 25 Half of Respondents Had Appeared in News Story or Know Someone Who Has; Most Said Story Accurate Q13:Have you, or anyone you know personally, ever appeared in a news story on television or in the newspaper? Q14:Have the stories in which you appeared been fair and accurate, or not? Would you say….

15. Washington News Council July 2001 ELWAY RESEARCH, Inc. 26 7 in 10 Said Independent Citizen-Based Group Would be Beneficial Q11:At present, if someone feels treated unfairly in a news story, that person has two basic alternative to get redress. He or she can ask the news organization to correct the error -- or the person can file a libel suit and go to court. Do you think it would be a benefit to citizens to have an independent, citizen-based group to register complaints? Dont know / no answer No Yes Those most likely to say a citizen-based group would be beneficial were: People aged 50 and under (73%), compared to those aged 51 and older (63%); and Those who felt a news story about them or an acquaintance was unfair and inaccurate (77%), compared to those who felt a story was fair and accurate (62%). Those most likely to say a citizen group would not be beneficial were: Those who felt a news story about them or an acquaintance was fair and accurate (28%), compared to those who felt a story was not fair and accurate (13%).

16. Washington News Council July 2001 ELWAY RESEARCH, Inc. 27 Most Said News Council Will be Somewhat / Very Useful at Improving Local News Q14:In fact, there is such a news council here in Washington state. Overall, do you think that an independent news council will be useful at improving local news coverage here in Washington state. Do you think it will be …. Very Useful Dont know / no answer Not at all Useful Not very useful Useful Generally speaking, respondents who said a news council will be useful or very useful at improving local news coverage: Rated local news media better for accuracy, balance and coverage than did respondents who did not think a news council would be useful; Were more likely to believe that local news media shared their community values.

17. Washington News Council July 2001 ELWAY RESEARCH, Inc. 28 Reasons to SUPPORT News Council 34%IMPROVE NEWS CONTENT 16%Balance (hear all sides) 14%Accuracy (fewer mistakes) 3%Accountability 1%Completeness 21%FAIRNESS 19%Fairness 5%Objectivity, Unbiased 1%Independent 13%PUBLIC INPUT, OVERSIGHT 11%People Would Have a Voice 2%Public Input 2%Watchdog 7%PROCESS 3%Quicker Resolution 3%Avoid Law suits 2%Redress 5%NEEDED 2%Public Needs It 2%Its Important / Needed 1%Government Needs It 1%Eliminate the Need for Lawyers 6%OTHER (misc.) 17%NONE; Would Not Make Any Difference 23%NO OPINION 18%COUNCIL MAKE-UP 12%Depends On Members/ Bias 4%Political 3%Special Interests 12%GOVERNMENT - TAXES 8%Too Much Regulation 5%Too Much Government 4%Bureaucratic 7%PROCESS 4%Too Many People Would Complain, Use It 2%Process Could/ Would Be Unfair 1%Would Encourage Law suits 1%Take Too Long; Stretch Out Resolution 6%COST 6%Cost 1%Who Would Pay for it? 1%Waste of Money 4%PHILOSOPHY 3%Freedom of Press/Speech 1%Objectivity, Unbiased 3%INTRUSION INTO PUBLISHING 2%Would Slow Down News Process 2%Too Much Power (in Council) 11%OTHER (misc.) 4%Would Not Work 3%No Need for It 2%Waste of Time 42% NONE / No Reasons 31%NO OPINION Reasons to OPPOSE News Council OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONS: Percentages may not total to 100% because respondents were encouraged to volunteer more than one answer.