RESULTS: Local media bias survey

In a highly unscientific survey conducted on this website about local media bias, some expected trends were seen.

The composition of the 27 respondents was heavily Republican. (Does that say something about the readers of OurGreenwich.com?) Republicans comprised 81% of those who responded; 11% identified themselves as Democrats, and 7% as Independent or no party affiliation. The self-identified political philosophy of those responding were 57% “conservative”; 39% said they were “middle of the road”; and, 4% identified themselves as “liberal.”

The survey asked questions about the seven broadcast and print news outlets in Greenwich (blog and other “citizen journalist” were not included in the survey). We are blessed with a plethora of local news outlets – a daily newspaper, two weeklies, two cable channels, a radio station and a monthly magazine. So, as one would expect, only local news junkies get news from all seven sources. Many people listed “no opinion” or “do not use this source for local news” for some of the outlets. Half the respondents had no view of WGCH, 57% had no opinion or didn’t use Channel 79, and 45% had no view of Channel 12.

So, what is the view of these consumers of our local media? As expected, most people had a view of Greenwich Time. Given the overwhelming Republican response, it is not surprising that the local daily was viewed as “far left” by 42% of those who responded, and “leaning left” by another 31% — that is, 73% see Greenwich Time as a left-of-center publication. Seven percent see a left-bias in Greenwich Time’s news only, 15% in its editorial only and 78% in both news and editorial pages.

Interestingly, of the seven outlets, Greenwich Time was the only one seen as “left-of-center” by a majority of those surveyed. Of the other six news outlets, a “far left” rating was given to the Greenwich Post by 13%, to Channel 12 by 9%, to the Greenwich Citizen by 8%, to WGCH by 5%, and to Greenwich Magazine by 4%.

No one rated Channel 79 as “far left” but 14% did rate it as “left leaning.” The “left leaning” ratings for the other news outlets were: 33% for Greenwich Citizen, 25% for Greenwich Magazine, 21% for Greenwich Post, 18% for Channel 12, and 9% for WGCH.

So, total “left-of-center” percentages (i.e., “far left” plus “leans left”) were 14% for both Channel 79 and WGCH; 27% for Channel 12; 29% for Greenwich Magazine; 33% for Greenwich Post; 42% for Greenwich Citizen; and as stated earlier, a whopping 73% for Greenwich Time.

The only news outlet deemed “far right” was Greenwich Magazine (8%). A “leans right” rating was given to Greenwich Magazine by 38% of those surveyed. The Greenwich Citizen was given a “leans right” ranking by 21%. Greenwich Time was seen as “leaning right” by 15% of the readers who took the survey. Greenwich Post was so rated by 13%; 9% ranked WGCH as “leans right” and 5% for Channel 12. No one rated Channel 79 as leaning right.

As for a “fair and balanced” presentation of local news, Channel 79 was seen as having “no leanings” by 29%, followed by WGCH at 27%, Greenwich Post at 25% and Channel 12 at 23%. Greenwich Magazine received a “no leaning” rank by 17% and the Greenwich Citizen by 13%. Only 4% felt that Greenwich Time had no leanings.

The ranking for bias reflected in both news and editorial was (as stated above) 78% for Greenwich Time. Forty-four percent felt that way about Greenwich Magazine; 42% about the Greenwich Citizen; 38% about the Greenwich Post; 26% about WGCH; and, 20% about Channel 12. A bias in the news alone (not editorial) was seen by those surveyed in the Greenwich Citizen (16%); Channel 12 (15%), Channel 79 and WGCH (11% each); Greenwich Time (7%); Greenwich Magazine (6%) and Greenwich Post (5%).

Again, this survey was unscientific, and the sampling so small as to make it nothing more than a fun exercise. Wouldn’t it be interesting, and informative, if a professional survey were done? Maybe all seven news outlets could team up to conduct such a poll. Or perhaps it could be a “class project” for some statistics or journalism class at GHS.