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  • Mar, 2013

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    Trust in institutions

    Q. How much trust do you have in the following institutions and organisations?

     

    Total
    trust
    26
    Sep
    11

    Total
    trust
    12
    Jun
    12

    Total trust
    22
    Oct
    12

    Total trust
    18
    Mar
    13

    A lot of trust

    Some trust

    A little trust

    No trust

    Don’t know

    % change

    The High Court

    72%

    60%

    63%

    74%

    34%

    40%

    13%

    6%

    8%

    +11

    The ABC

    46%

    54%

    59%

    70%

    22%

    48%

    17%

    6%

    7%

    +11

    The Reserve Bank

    67%

    49%

    53%

    64%

    21%

    43%

    21%

    8%

    7%

    +11

    Charitable organisations

    61%

    50%

    53%

    52%

    9%

    43%

    33%

    9%

    6%

    -1

    Environment groups

    45%

    32%

    36%

    41%

    6%

    35%

    33%

    20%

    7%

    +5

    The Commonwealth Public Service

      49%*

    30%

    33%

    36%

    4%

    32%

    37%

    17%

    9%

    +3

    Federal Parliament

    55%

    22%

    26%

    34%

    4%

    30%

    31%

    29%

    6%

    +8

    Your local council

    na

    na

    32%

    34%

    3%

    31%

    39%

    22%

    6%

    +2

    TV news media

    na

    21%

    26%

    30%

    4%

    26%

    46%

    20%

    4%

    +4

    State Parliament

    na

    na

    25%

    30%

    4%

    26%

    32%

    31%

    6%

    +5

    Newspapers

    na

    26%

    31%

    30%

    3%

    27%

    43%

    22%

    5%

    -1

    Religious organisations

    29%

    27%

    31%

    27%

    5%

    22%

    29%

    37%

    7%

    -4

    Online news media

    na

    23%

    28%

    27%

    3%

    24%

    48%

    20%

    6%

    -1

    Business groups

    38%

    22%

    25%

    26%

    3%

    23%

    42%

    23%

    9%

    +1

    Trade unions

    39%

    22%

    23%

    25%

    4%

    21%

    31%

    36%

    7%

    +2

    Political parties

    na

    12%

    16%

    12%

    1%

    11%

    36%

    45%

    6%

    -4

     Note: ‘Total Trust’ is an aggregate figure achieved by adding ‘A lot of trust’ and ‘Some trust’.
* This Commonwealth Public Service figure is from a question asked in 6 Feb 12.

    Since this question was last asked in October, there has been a significant increase in trust in the High Court (+11%), the ABC (+11%), the Reserve Bank (+11%) and the Federal Parliament (+8). Trust in the High Court and Reserve Bank is back to similar levels to that recorded in 2011.

    Respondents had most trust in the High Court (74%), the ABC (70%), the Reserve Bank (64%) and charitable organisations (52%). They had least trust in political parties (12%), trade unions (25%), business groups (26%), online news media (27%) and religious organisations (27%).

    Compared to the average, Labor voters had more trust in the ABC (77%), environment groups (50%), the Commonwealth Public Service (44%), local councils (42%), Federal Parliament (43%) and trade unions (41%).

    Liberal/National voters, compared to the average, had a little more trust in religious organisations (31%) and TV news media (35%).

  • Feb, 2013

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    Trust in information

    Q. How much trust do you have in the following for information on major public issues like immigration, climate change or the economy?

     

    A lot of trust

    Some trust

    Not much trust

    No trust at all

    Don’t know

    Don’t use

    What I see on TV news and current affairs

    5%

    50%

    30%

    11%

    3%

    1%

    What I hear on radio news and current affairs

    5%

    51%

    30%

    8%

    3%

    4%

    What I hear on radio talkback

    5%

    35%

    31%

    17%

    3%

    9%

    What I read in newspapers or online news sites

    5%

    51%

    32%

    8%

    2%

    2%

    What politicians say

    1%

    12%

    39%

    43%

    3%

    2%

    What I see online on blogs and social media

    2%

    20%

    39%

    22%

    5%

    11%

    What I hear from friends and family

    10%

    53%

    26%

    6%

    5%

    1%

    What I hear in my workplace

    3%

    37%

    34%

    10%

    4%

    11%

    What I learn from my own research

    35%

    50%

    6%

    2%

    2%

    4%

     

     

    Total

    lot/some of trust

    Vote Labor

    Vote Lib/Nat

    Vote Greens

    What I see on TV news and current affairs

    55%

    54%

    59%

    40%

    What I hear on radio news and current affairs

    56%

    53%

    61%

    34%

    What I hear on radio talkback

    40%

    34%

    46%

    26%

    What I read in newspapers or online news sites

    56%

    59%

    58%

    48%

    What politicians say

    13%

    21%

    8%

    14%

    What I see online on blogs and social media

    22%

    23%

    23%

    24%

    What I hear from friends and family

    63%

    58%

    66%

    63%

    What I hear in my workplace

    40%

    39%

    43%

    42%

    What I learn from my own research

    85%

    86%

    86%

    83%

    85% have a lot or some trust in what they learn from their own research, 63% in what they hear from friends and family, 56% in newspapers and radio and 55% in TV news and current affairs. Only 13% have a lot or some trust in what they hear from politicians and 22% have a lot/some trust in blogs and social media.

    Labor voters tend to have a little more trust in newspapers while Liberal/National voters have a little more trust in radio and TV news and current affairs. Liberal/National voters also have above-average trust in radio talkback.

  • Oct, 2012

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    Trust in organisations and institutions

    Q. How much trust do you have in the following institutions and organisations?

     

    Total

    trust

    26 Sep 11

    Total

    trust

    12 Jun 12

    Total trust

    22 Oct 12

    A lot of trust

    Some trust

    A little trust

    No trust

    Don’t know

    % change

    The High Court

    72%

    60%

    63%

    26%

    37%

    21%

    10%

    6%

    +3

    The ABC

    46%

    54%

    59%

    20%

    39%

    26%

    8%

    6%

    +5

    The Reserve Bank

    67%

    49%

    53%

    16%

    37%

    28%

    12%

    8%

    +4

    Charitable organisations

    61%

    50%

    53%

    9%

    44%

    33%

    10%

    5%

    +3

    Environment groups

    45%

    32%

    36%

    8%

    28%

    35%

    24%

    6%

    +4

    The Commonwealth Public Service

      49%*

    30%

    33%

    6%

    27%

    41%

    16%

    10%

    +3

    Your local council

    na

    na

    32%

    4%

    28%

    39%

    22%

    6%

    na

    Religious organisations

    29%

    27%

    31%

    7%

    24%

    28%

    35%

    6%

    +4

    Newspapers

    na

    26%

    31%

    4%

    27%

    45%

    20%

    4%

    +5

    Online news media

    na

    23%

    28%

    4%

    24%

    45%

    20%

    6%

    +5

    TV news media

    na

    21%

    26%

    5%

    21%

    44%

    26%

    4%

    +5

    Federal Parliament

    55%

    22%

    26%

    4%

    22%

    37%

    32%

    5%

    +4

    State Parliament

    na

    na

    25%

    4%

    21%

    37%

    33%

    5%

    na

    Business groups

    38%

    22%

    25%

    3%

    22%

    45%

    21%

    9%

    +3

    Trade unions

    39%

    22%

    23%

    5%

    18%

    32%

    36%

    9%

    +1

    Political parties

    na

    12%

    16%

    2%

    14%

    36%

    42%

    6%

    +4

    Note: ‘Total Trust’ is an aggregate figure achieved by adding ‘A lot of trust’ and ‘Some trust’.
    * This Commonwealth Public Service figure is from a question asked in 6 Feb 12.

    Overall, there have been small increases in trust across all organisations since this question was last asked in June. However, there has been no significant change in the rankings.

    Respondents had most trust in the High Court (63%), the ABC (59%), charitable organisations (53%) and the Reserve Bank (53%). They had least trust in political parties (16%), trade unions (23%), business groups (25%) State Parliaments (25%), Federal Parliament (26%) and TV news media (26%).

    Compared to the average, Labor voters had more trust in Federal Parliament (40%), the High Court (67%), the ABC (68%), the Reserve Bank (61%), the Commonwealth Public Service (42%), trade unions (41%), environment groups (48%) and local councils (39%).

    Liberal/National voters, compared to the average, had more trust in religious organisations (37%) and business groups (32%) but less trust in Federal Parliament (21%), Commonwealth Public Service (28%), trade unions (14%) and environment groups (27%).

  • Jul, 2012

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    What next for public broadcasters in the digital age?

    If SBS and the ABC don’t get a substantial increase in funding, their future is shaky, warns Nadine Flood.



    The old media empires are being transformed by a new audience which doesn’t pay for its news. The News Corporation scandal in the UK is turning people away from newspapers. So what are the ramifications for public broadcasting?

    CPSU’s Nadine Flood tells 3Q the role of the national broadcasters will be more important than ever. Investigative journalism and public accountability are at risk. But public funding must increase if they are to fulfil their roles and continue to innovate.

  • Jul, 2012

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    TRENDS: with Peter Lewis

    An overabundance of free online content means we value it less than ever before, polling shows.



    The ructions within newspaper empires Fairfax and News Limited centre on our move to online media. But while the opinion makers have written acres on the subject, it seems the general public is less concerned. Essential Media polling shows that only 25 per cent of us are concerned about the potential death of newspapers.

    And our online reading habits show why. Sixty per cent of the population do not take in any daily news. Peter Lewis and the 3Q panel discuss this celebration of ignorance and its future implications.

    Read more on the polling here.

  • Jul, 2012

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    Reading Newspapers

    Q. How often do you read newspapers (in print, not online)?

     

    Total

    Aged 18-34

    Aged 35-54

    Aged 55+

    Visit news websites daily

    Visit news websites a few times a week

    Visit news websites about once a week

    Visit news websites less often

    Never visit news websites

    Daily

    24%

    15%

    25%

    34%

    34%

    20%

    19%

    14%

    19%

    A few times a week

    23%

    24%

    25%

    18%

    22%

    31%

    14%

    24%

    14%

    About once a week

    22%

    20%

    22%

    24%

    19%

    28%

    37%

    15%

    14%

    Less often

    22%

    30%

    19%

    16%

    19%

    15%

    24%

    39%

    17%

    Never

    9%

    11%

    9%

    8%

    6%

    6%

    6%

    7%

    35%

    24% said they read newspapers daily and 69% read at least once a week.

    Older respondents read newspapers more frequently – 34% of those aged 55+ read daily. 28% of those on higher incomes ($1,600+ pw) read daily compared to 18% of those earning under $600 pw.

    Those who visit news websites frequently also read newspapers more frequently – 34% of those visiting news websites daily also read newspapers daily.

  • Jul, 2012

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    Visiting News Websites

    Q. And how often do you visit news websites?

     

    Total

    Aged 18-34

    Aged 35-54

    Aged 55+

    Read news
    papers daily

    Read news
    papers a few times a week

    Read news
    papers about once a week

    Read news
    papers less often

    Never read news
    papers

    Daily

    39%

    39%

    39%

    38%

    54%

    38%

    34%

    33%

    26%

    A few times a week

    23%

    25%

    25%

    18%

    19%

    31%

    29%

    16%

    15%

    About once a week

    11%

    10%

    10%

    12%

    8%

    6%

    18%

    12%

    7%

    Less often

    18%

    18%

    17%

    20%

    11%

    19%

    13%

    32%

    15%

    Never

    10%

    8%

    9%

    12%

    8%

    6%

    6%

    8%

    37%

    39% said they visited news websites daily and 73% visit at least once a week.

    Visiting news websites was similar across age groups but a little higher for those on higher incomes – 44% of those earning $1,600+ pw compared to 33% of those earning under $600 pw.

    Those who read newspapers frequently also visit news websites more frequently – 54% of those reading newspapers daily also visit news websites daily.

    Note that as this is an online survey, all respondents have access to the Internet.

  • Jun, 2012

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    Trust in Newspapers

    Q. How much trust do you have in what you read in the following newspapers?

    Total a lot/some

    25 Jul 11

    Total a lot/some

    A lot of trust

    Some trust

    Not much trust

    No trust at all

    Don’t know

    The Australian

    69%

    60%

    15%

    45%

    23%

    12%

    6%

    The Telegraph (NSW only)

    52%

    49%

    10%

    39%

    30%

    19%

    3%

    Sydney Morning Herald (NSW only)

    74%

    69%

    19%

    50%

    22%

    6%

    4%

    The Age (Victoria only)

    79%

    76%

    20%

    56%

    18%

    5%

    1%

    Herald Sun (Victoria only)

    54%

    51%

    8%

    43%

    32%

    15%

    1%

    Courier Mail (Queensland only)

    65%

    51%

    6%

    45%

    28%

    13%

    7%

    * Note : Percentages based only on respondents who had read each newspaper.

    Among those who have read the newspaper, 20% have a lot of trust in The Age and 19% have a lot of trust in the SMH. 15% of readers of The Australian have a lot of trust in the newspaper but only 10% have a lot of trust in The Telegraph and 8% in The Herald Sun.  49% have not much or no trust in The Telegraph and 47% have not much or no trust in The Herald Sun.

    Overall, the most trusted newspapers were The Age (76% a lot/some trust) and the SMH (69%). The least trusted were The Telegraph (49% a lot/some trust), the HeraldSun (51%) and the Courier Mail (51%).

    Since this question was asked last year, there have been significant declines in trust in the Courier Mail (down 14%) and The Australian (down 9%).

    Liberal/National voters (70%) were more likely than Labor voters (48%) to have a lot or some trust in The Australian.

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