News survey shows disturbing trends

My weekly newspaper column, published today. (MODS: I have reprint permissions from The Sentinel)
Also available online at:
http://www.cumberlink.com/articles/2006/08/03/editorial/rich_lewis/lewis10.txt

Comments welcome.

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By Rich Lewis, August 3, 2006

The fact that you are reading this column shows that you and I have at least one thing in common.

We both read newspapers.

I would also guess that you keep up with “the news” in general because you believe it’s important to be informed about what’s going on in the world.

Unfortunately, a new survey suggests that many Americans don’t share that view.

The Pew Research Center for The People and The Press this week released its “Biennial News Consumption Survey” — a 56-page report on who follows the news, what they want to know about, and how they prefer to get the information. The latest survey was conducted in April and May, but the report includes data going back many years, so it provides an interesting perspective on our changing culture.

By far, the most alarming finding in the survey is that 19 percent of those surveyed said that, on an average day, they don’t get any news from any source. In 1994, only 10 percent said they never read, watched or listened to the news.

Keep in mind that a major source for news — the Internet — entered the game during that 12-year span, and the reach of cable and satellite TV expanded significantly. You figure the number of people paying attention would have gone up, not down. Not so.

And the decline was across the board.

More at link...

The complete Pew report is available at http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?PageID=1064.

Rich Lewis’ e-mail address is:
rlcolumn@comcast.net.

EDIT: COPYRIGHT. PLEASE POST ONLY 4 OR 5
PARAGRAPHS FROM THE COPYRIGTED NEWS SOURCE
PER DU RULES.

to watch brainless reality shows than watch the news.....what a minute..isn't Fox one of those faux reality game shows? :sarcasm:

Loved this tag...

And here’s a curious detail — many more Republicans than Democrats have closed their eyes and ears to world news in the last two years.

No shit!

what's the difference between brainless reality shows and brainless televised news?

The only news I trust on the little screen is on Comedy Central -- and you know what two shows those are.

In 2004, 56 percent of Republicans said they followed international news “most of the time.” In 2006, that number dropped 20 points to 36 percent.

When the news doesn't match your view of the world, it's hard to keep watching -- just too uncomfortable.

delivered to my house, i actually get 2, the sacbee and the SF Chronicle everyday. It makes me sad that so many people not only don't read the paper but they also just don't read anymore. This country is living on sound bites.