The Press in the Judgement of the Press

Occupational self-image of German editors and judgement on freedom of the press. Topics: Most important tasks of the press; judgement on the performance of the press; assessment of the most important problems of German politics and the contribution of the press to problem solution; views about the extent of actual freedom of the press; possibilities to secure freedom of the press; perceived threats to freedom of the press and dependence on advertising business; comparison of possibilities of press and radio to influence public opinion; attitude to self-limitation of the press; press and Federal German Armed Forces; influence of the press on democracy; judgement on selected press agencies; party preference of respondent. Demography: age (classified); sex; marital status; religious denomination; school education; vocational training; professional position; income; refugee status. Interviewer rating: social class and willingness of respondent to cooperate; number of contact attempts. Also encoded were: party orientation of the newspaper; type of newspaper; number of copies and place of publication.