News consumers know what they want from reporters — just the facts, not opinions.
In findings aimed directly at the Facebook, Twitter, and other social media chatterings of journalists, the latest Gallup/Knight Foundation survey found that Americans appreciate the added value of putting out more info.
But when it comes to reporters coughing up their spin on the day’s news, the advice is to zip it.
The survey looked at the use of social media by reporters and found that it can help the industry regain some trust.
Americans, for example, approve of reporters using social media to seek input for stories and they especially like it when new facts are shared and used to correct false statements by politicians.
Consider:
- Three-quarters “endorse reporters relying on social media to get audience input on what stories to cover and to dispute interpretations of facts reported by other news outlets.”
- Over 90% like it when reporters share additional information on their reporting.
- 92% approve of the news media “correcting false or misleading statements made by politicians.”
It’s a different story for Twitter rants, though.
Gallup/Knight found that 65% disapprove, 27% strongly, of journalists sharing their personal views of news on social media, though like many issues in the nation, partisans disagree. For example, 47% of Democrats are “more inclined” to approve of reporters editorializing than Republicans, 25%.
Noting other polling that bias is “arguably Americans’ chief complaint about the news media,” the latest survey said that people “prefer that reporters maintain an objective stance by sticking to the facts on social media rather than being transparent about their biases by revealing them publicly.”
