Radio & Other Media News Credibility Distrusted…

Monday, October, 5, 2009 by Mel Phillips.

A newly released Gallup survey shows that 18 percent or 2 in 10 Americans have no confidence in the news media. This is among the worst grades Gallup has ever recorded. Those that have a great deal or fair amount of confidence in the media to report the news fully, accurately and fairly registered below 50 percent at 45 percent. Last year that percentage was at 43. The media represented in the study included radio, TV and newspapers. Gallup’s survey did not include Internet sources — clearly an oversight unless they intend to study those sources separately. They also should have broken their study down by individual sources rather than link all three together. Despite those shortcomings, this study does not speak well for news credibility. It does speak volumes about the bias in the news that respondents have been reporting steadily in various studies over the past few years…

The Gallup survey findings are broken down by respondents’ political party affiliations, which won’t be discussed here. The results of the study were based on telephone interviews with 1,026 national adults, aged 18 and over and were conducted August 31 - September 1, 2009. Interviews were done with respondents on land-line phones, for those with land-line phones and cell phones for those who are cell-phone only. The maximum margin of sampling error is + or - 4 percent…

It’s interesting to note that those with a high school education or less place the most trust in the media, followed by liberals, women and 18 to 29 year-olds. In other demographic groups, less than a majority say they have a great deal or fair amount of trust in media. It was probably smart for Gallup to break down party affiliation in doing their study because we have far too few independent-thinking people. Most folks believe what they want to believe — that’s why Fox and CNN have separate fan bases. What we need more of in this country are people who don’t think by party affiliation but rather as intelligent adults who can formulate their own opinion…  

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1921] A World Series First: The World Series is aired on radio for the first time. Three stations were the flagship stations for network coverage: KDKA Pittsburgh, WJZ New York and WBZ Boston. In that series, the Giants beat the Yankees in 8 games…
2. 1950] Premiered on this date: “You Bet Your Life“, hosted by the ‘one, the only’ Groucho Marx…
3. 1969] High flying comedy: “Monty Python’s Flying Circus” makes its debut on BBC television…
4. 1970] PBS founded: The Public Broadcasting Service is launched. Here’s PBS today…
5. 1983] And the winner is: Solidarity founder Lech Walesa is named winner of the Nobel Peace Prize…
6. 1988] Shooting Quayle: Vice Presidential candidate Lloyd Bentsen makes his famous “I knew Jack Kennedy” retort to Dan Quayle. Quayle replies, ‘at least I know how to spell potatoe’…
7. 1989] Bakker fried: A jury in Charlotte (NC) convicts former PTL evangelist Jim Bakker of using his TV show to defraud followers…
8. 2001] Deadly dose of anthrax: Robert Stevens of Boca Raton (FL) becomes the first victim of the 2001 anthrax attacks…
9. 2001] Record breaker: Barry Bonds of the S.F. Giants sets a new mark for home runs in a season with his 71st and 72nd in a loss to the L.A. Dodgers to break Mark McGwire’s record of 70 set in 1998. Bonds will finish the season with 73. Both men have been accused of taking illegal substances…
10. 2005] Whips and chains: Defying the White House, the Senate votes 90-9 to approve an amendment that would prohibit the use of “cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.” against anyone in U.S. government custody. This was a result of what transpired at Abu Ghraib…

Commentary:

So sorry to hear about Jim Nettleton’s passing at the age of 69. Jim worked in several major markets but made his name in Philadelphia at WFIL. Jim was born in Boston and came to Philadelphia in 1966 where he would start a legendary career and love affair with the City of Brotherly Love over the years. Jim, a pro’s pro, was living in Cherry Hill (NJ) at the time of his death from cancer. R.I.P. Jim. You will be missed by those of us who remember how professional and good you were… 

‘The growing importance of mastering in the home studio’ will be the subject of the Audio Engineering Society, New York Section’s meeting on Tuesday, October 13. The Club/Group meeting will be held at the New School University Jazz Performance Space, 55 West 13th Street, 5th floor. Robert Johansen, owner of Tangerine Mastering will host with Andres Mayo, owner of Mayo Mastering presenting from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm… 

Music Memories:

• 1968] Released on this date: “White Room” - Cream…1968] “Magic Carpet Ride” - Steppenwolf…1975] “Cats In The Cradle” - Harry Chapin…

“Happy Birthday…happy birthday”: Nicky Hilton (26), Kate Winslet (34), Mario Lemieux (44), Patrick Roy(44), Mark Geragos (52), Bob Geldof (58), Karen Allen (58), Steve Miller (66), Arlene (Chantels) Smith (68) and Bill (”My name, Jose Jimenez”) Dana (85)…

Timeline Countdown: One day until the Detroit - Minnesota playoff game, 2 days until the rest of the MLB playoffs, 23 days until the 1st game of the World Series and 26 nights until Halloween…

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