By KUNA
Washington : Nearly 67 percent od Americans say journalism is out of touch with what Americans want from news, according to a new study released Wednesday, which found the internet has topped newspapers and TV as the top source of news for about half of Americans.
About 70 percent of Americans think journalism is important to the quality of life, but 64 percent are “dissatisfied with the quality of journalism in their communities,” according to the We Media/Zogby Interactive poll.
Nearly half of the 1,979 polled said they look to internet for the latest news and information, as opposed to traditional news sources like newspapers or TV, especially among younger adults 18 to 30 years old, 55 percent, compared to 35 percent of those 65 years or older.
Older adults were the only age group that preferred traditional newspapers or TV, rather than the internet. Overall, the study found 29 percent preferred TV as their main source of news, while 11 percent listened to radio, and 10 percent favored newspapers.
Only seven percent of young adults read newspapers for the latest news.
The study found the internet not only outweighed TV, radio, and newspapers as the most popular source for news and information, but were more trusted, about 32 percent said websites were more trustworthy, followed by newspapers, 22 percent, TV 21 percent and radio 15 percent.
While 75 percent believe the internet has made a positive impact on the quality of journalism.
Although most Americans expressed dissatisfaction with the current quality of journalism, 64 percent, the number is up 35 percent from last year.
The poll was conducted February 20-21, 2008, and has a margin of error +/-2.2 percent. It will be published in the fourth-annual We Media Forum and Festival in Miami.