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Bloggers Crucial to the Future of Journalism
Consumers are dissatisfied with the current state of traditional journalism, according to a recent Zogby International Poll, and are therefore leaning on bloggers to supplement their news. The majority of respondents indicate that they are not happy with the way journalism is responding to what they want, though 90% say "trustworthiness" will play a large part in deciding the influence social networking sites and blogs will have over journalism. Fifty-three percent of respondents say that the rise of free, internet-based media poses the greatest opportunity to the future of journalism, and 76% indicate that the internet has had a positive effect on the quality of journalism.
Other findings:
* 55% of respondents say they are dissatisfied with traditional news outlets, and 61% say traditional journalism is out of touch with what Americans want from their news.
* 86% of respondents believe bloggers will play an important part in journalism's future.
* Despite the high level of dissatisfaction, 72% say journalism is important to their community.
* 81% name websites as an important news source, 78% television, 73% radio, 69% newspapers, and 38% magazines.
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