ABC News Media Poll, January 1997

This special topic poll, conducted January 6-7, 1997, sought respondents' views on national and local media practices. Respondents were asked to rate the ethics and honesty of television and print news media, as well as of politicians, corporations, average Americans, and the Clinton Administration. Those polled were asked whether they approved of the way national network television and local television stations reported the news, and whether the news media cared more about the accuracy of a story or being the first to report it. Views were also sought on the media's treatment of politicians, various socioeconomic classes, religious and political groups, celebrities, the military, the police, the government, and corporations. Respondents also rated their enjoyment of news reports on celebrities and politicians, and commented on the relevance of news stories to their lives. Additional topics covered the influence of network television news on viewers, the benefits and drawbacks of investigative news reporting, the media's respect or disrespect of privacy, the power of the media to limit political corruption and unfair business practices, and how often respondents watched television evening news programs. Demographic variables included sex, race, age, education level, household income, employment status, political party affiliation, political philosophy, and type of residential area (e.g., urban or rural).

本专题民意调查于1997年1月6日至7日开展，旨在了解受访者对国家及地方媒体实践的看法。调查要求受访者对电视与印刷新闻媒体、政客、企业、普通美国人及克林顿政府的道德与诚实度进行评级；询问其是否认可全国网络电视及地方电视台的新闻报道方式，以及新闻媒体更注重新闻故事的准确性还是抢先报道；同时收集受访者对媒体如何对待政客、各类社会经济阶层、宗教与政治团体、名人、军队、警察、政府及企业的看法；此外，受访者还需评价对名人及政客相关新闻报道的喜爱程度，并就新闻故事与自身生活的相关性发表意见。调查内容还涵盖网络电视新闻对观众的影响、调查性新闻报道的利弊、媒体对隐私的尊重与否、媒体限制政治腐败及不公平商业行为的能力，以及受访者观看电视晚间新闻节目的频率。人口统计学变量包括性别、种族、年龄、教育水平、家庭收入、就业状况、政党归属、政治哲学及居住区域类型（如城市或农村）。