As you have breakfast this morning how many of you will wonder if what you have just seen, heard or read is really accurate and fair?
The International Centre for Media and the Public Agenda at the University of Maryland, USA has produced a report looking at public trust in broadcast media outlets. They studied 25 print and broadcast outlets to see how transparent they are.
The Guardian newspaper came top with the BBC and Financial Times both in the top 10.
Research such as Edelmans Annual Trust Barometer shows decline in trust of politicans, press and the broadcast media by members of the public.
The reseach by the ICMPA looked at global news sites that are most transparent about their operations.
They considered 5 areas and the news organisations policies to them
- Corrections - admitting errors and making corrections
- Ownership - disclosing ownership and policies effecting editorial control
- Staff policies - covering conflict of interests
- Reporting policies -disclosing any
- Interactivity - allowing readership comment and feedback (The FT was one of only two in the top 25 to score full marks in this area)