Shooty's News and Current events

The survey, the first of its kind in Canada, found that 76 per cent of respondents said news organizations are not independent, while only 19 per cent said they are mostly independent.

Five per cent had no opinion or refused to answer.

Young Canadians were even more cynical, with 81 per cent of 19 to 25-year-olds saying news organizations are influenced by powerful groups and individuals, the survey found.

When respondents were asked what outside groups influence the news, 42 per cent said politicians and government; 27 per cent, business and money interests; 12 per cent, media owners; 12 per cent, lobby groups; seven per cent, labour unions, and four per cent, advertisers.

Francophone Quebecers were less likely to mention political and business influences (38 and 27 per cent respectively) and more likely to pinpoint media owners (15 per cent) and labour unions (17 per cent).

The survey was conducted late last year by the Canadian Media Research Consortium, which includes the University of B.C. graduate school of journalism, the York/Ryerson Universities graduate program in communications and culture and Laval University's media studies.

A slim majority of respondents, 52 per cent, said media coverage of the personal and ethical behaviour of political leaders is excessive but a much larger majority, 64 per cent, said criticism of their policies and proposals is not.

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