Public Often Mistaken about the Media and U. S. Journalists.

Adults in 309 households in the Orlando, Florida, area were surveyed by telephone in a study that investigated the public's perceptions about journalists and the media. The subjects were asked 20 questions that elicited their knowledge about ownership of daily newspapers, including the name of the owner of the local daily, as well as their opinions about journalists' ages, educations, salaries, family backgrounds, and political and religious beliefs. Other questions dealt with journalists' performances, other trends in the field, and respondents' attitudes toward the media. Findings indicated that a majority of the respondents realized that most journalists come from middle-class families, have a college degree, and are well educated. Large numbers indicated that they knew that journalists tend to be liberal and mobile, but also thought (erroneously) that journalists' religious beliefs are similar to those of other Americans, and that journalists are about the same age as workers in other professions. The public also thought that journalists earn higher salaries than they do. Respondents knew that most newspapers are owned by large corporations, but only 18.8% knew the name of the owner of the local daily, and only 37.6% realized that newspapers enjoy more freedom from government regulations than other media. Respondents thought that journalists are becoming more professional, but are not particularly honest while writing about political campaigns. Only 53% interviewed indicated that they would want their children to become journalists. (Tables of data, 17 footnotes, and the survey instrument are appended.) (NKA)