Viewers find TV news a turnoff
Greeks may be spending more time in front of their television screens but seven out of every 10 do not trust what they are seeing and prefer to tune in to the radio or pick up a newspaper as their main source of information, according to the results of a poll released yesterday. A survey taken conducted by research company VPRC on behalf of Skai radio station on Monday and Tuesday found that 61 percent of the 958 people polled believe that television broadcasts distort facts. The only stations that retain some credibility, according to the survey, are the state-owned networks. Nearly two thirds said that they have more trust in the state broadcaster. These statistics, however, come in contrast to ratings figures, which show that the large majority of Greeks watch the news broadcasts of private networks. Industry sources said that extreme allegations, along with sensationalist journalism, has taken a toll on the sector’s credibility. Half of those questioned called on the government to censor media organizations on ethical grounds if warranted. «Radio, but mainly newspapers, are starting to make a comeback,» said Yiannis Mavris, VPRC managing director. Some 44 percent of respondents said that they have a lot of trust in the way radio stations operate, while the figure for newspapers came in at 40 percent, versus 28 percent for televisions stations. On the political front, the nationwide survey found that 42.5 percent intend to vote for New Democracy in the next elections, while 39 percent would choose PASOK. PM Costas Karamanlis came out on top as the country’s preferred leader with 51 percent of respondents choosing him, while only 22 percent would opt for PASOK chief George Papandreou.
