Posted April 8, 2008

Read report here

Most editors and the public agree that local news online should follow longstanding journalism standards, such as verifying information. But views of the two groups diverged on whether users of local news Web sites should post comments without giving their real names, according to a new survey.

The Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute (RJI), in partnership with the Associated Press Managing Editors (APME), conducted the comprehensive study of credibility of online local journalism between August and October 2007. The purpose of the study was to examine opinions of the general public as well as newsroom editors regarding the credibility of online local news content, interaction between newsroom and readers, and the attributes that comprise good journalism practice online.

Five hundred interviews were randomly completed with adults 18 years of age or older throughout the United States, as well as 1,251 interviews with newsroom editors of U.S. daily newspapers. The surveys were conducted by RJI's Center for Advanced Social Research (CASR) at the Missouri's School of Journalism.

Insights revealed by the survey include:

■ An overwhelming majority of editors and the public agreed that the local news content online was trustworthy, with editors saying so more significantly than the public, largely due to their professional training and experiences. Nearly 75% of the public users of online local news and 74% of the editors trusted the news organization's news report online the same as in print or broadcast.

■ Both groups agreed that it is important that journalists verify information, get the facts right, and correct mistakes in order to produce good journalism online. They also agreed that it would be beneficial to good journalism online that both journalists and the public share responsibility for accuracy of local news contents on a news site.

■ Disagreement was evident between editors and online local news users on whether anonymous postings should be allowed on news websites. The editors voiced a stronger desire than the public for readers to give their real identities in their posts. More than 60% of the editors said it would be harmful to good journalism online to invite users to participate without using their real identities, compared to 45% of the users saying so.

Similarly, 64% of the editors thought it was a bad idea, and 24% a good idea when asked "do you think it is a good idea or bad idea that a website does not require names?" In comparison, 45% of the public thought it was a good idea, and 40% a bad idea.

■ Comparing the trustworthiness of what was online with that of the sponsoring newsorganization, 74% of the editors and 75% of the public were indifferent. Nearly one fourthof the editors (24%) trusted print newspaper more, compared to 15% of the public.

The study also shows evidence of technological and cultural changes in U.S. daily newsrooms, as 39% of the 1,251 editors reported they were print editors, 19% online editors, and 42% were responsible for both print and online.

The full report, "The Online Credibility Gap: Local Readers and the Newsroom" was done under the leadership of Ken Fleming, director of research, Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute, www.rjionline.org, in partnership with the Associated Press Managing Editors, www.apme.com. The report is available for download here. A NewsU/Poynter Webinar that marked the release of the survey attracted record advance registration. Ongoing discussion of the results will take place on the NewU Forum.

APME is a professional, non-profit organization of top editors at more than 1,500 newspapers affiliated with The Associated Press. Its mission is to assist editors in coping creatively and effectively with newsroom management challenges. During the past decade, APME took the national lead in helping newsrooms incorporate attention to news credibility and community connections into the daily life of American journalists.

RJI is journalism's advanced studies center. Experts at RJI develop and test ways to improve journalism through new technology and improved processes. In partnership with media organizations and nonprofits, RJI delivers technological and strategic innovations in journalism and advertising. Launched in 2004 with an initial grant of $31 million from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation, it will officially dedicate its world headquarters in September 2008 in conjunction with the centennial celebration of the Missouri School of Journalism, where it is based.

For more information about this study, or to schedule an interview with the project advisers, contact Pamela Johnson, (573) 882-4998, or johnsonpamela@missouri.edu.