September 13, 2001
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Americans Believe Attack on America TV Coverage Accurate; Anchors Professional
PHOENIX — What kind of job have the broadcast media, nationally and locally, done in covering the devastating attack on America during the past few days?
According to a nationwide telephone survey of 500 Americans conducted Wednesday evening, Sept 12, Americans overwhelmingly approve of the television coverage they have viewed. Those surveyed appreciate the accuracy and immediacy of the television coverage, as well as stations' commitment to continuous coverage. The survey, conducted by WestGroup Research of Phoenix, showed that almost 60% of those surveyed have no complaints about the news coverage they have viewed in the past few days. Of those who mentioned areas for improvement, repetition of information (12%) and pictures (8%) were the major criticisms. Also, approximately one in ten felt the coverage should be less sensational in nature.
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Specifically, praise was given in the following areas:
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Accuracy of the news coverage was most often appreciated by viewers (36% of total mentions). This was particularly true of those preferring the coverage on CBS (46%).
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Immediacy of coverage and the commitment by stations to offer continuous coverage was appreciated by approximately one in five viewers.
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Commitment to continuous coverage was more often mentioned as the "best aspect" of coverage by ABC (22%) and CNN viewers (25%).
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Professionalism of the anchors was mentioned by 15%.
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Photos and video footage were cited as the "best aspects" by 14%, but were particularly popular with NBC (21%) and FOX (20%) viewers.
Friends, family and co-workers were most often the initial source of notification of the attack on America (mentioned by 25%). Local and network television news coverage, plus radio announcements, were mentioned by approximately one in five residents.
For continuing information, Americans have relied most often on television.
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CNN (21%) and ABC (21%) topped the list as the preferred stations for crisis news coverage.
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NBC follows closely (17%).
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CBS and FOX are selected by one in ten viewers (11% each)
The results contain an error margin of +/- 4.4%.
