HKU POP releases people’s appraisal of local news media Back
Press Release on April 19, 2016
| Detailed Findings (People's Appraisal of the Local News Media) |
Special Announcement
To facilitate academic study and rational discussion, Public Opinion Programme (POP) at The University of Hong Kong has already released for public examination some time ago via the “HKU POP Site” (http://hkupop.pori.hk) the raw data of all 95 regular rating surveys of CE CY Leung, as well as the 181 regular rating surveys of former CE Donald Tsang and 239 regular rating surveys of former CE CH Tung, along with related demographics of respondents. Please follow normal academic standards when using or citing such data.
Abstract
POP interviewed 1,006 Hong Kong people between 11 and 14 April 2016 by means of a random telephone survey conducted by real interviewers. The survey finds that compared to seven months ago, the general credibility rating of the news media has not changed much, the latest rating is 5.87 marks. People’s satisfaction with press freedom has slightly dropped to positive 13 percentage points. While the change is within sampling error, the latest figure is a new low since this survey item began in September 1997. Among various types of news media, television and the internet remain to be people’s main sources of news, newspaper continues to rank third, the percentage of people who regard it to be their main source of news registers a record low since the survey item began in October 2000. In terms of performance satisfaction, people are most satisfied with the performance of the radio, with net satisfaction standing at positive 49 percentage points. Television comes next, with net satisfaction standing at positive 35 percentage points, and remains at its historical low. People’s net satisfaction with the overall performance of the news media in general now stands at positive 39 percentage points, 10 percentage points higher than that registered in the previous survey, roughly back to the level registered in May 2013. Besides, most people think the media have given full play to press freedom, but at the same time misused or abused press freedom, 35% and 29% consider the media responsible and irresponsible in their reporting respectively, 52% believe Hong Kong’s news media have practiced self-censorship, with net satisfaction standing at positive 21 percentage points, mainly because of their hesitation to criticize the Central Government, while the percentage of those who thought the media have scruples when criticizing the HKSAR Government is roughly the same as those who thought otherwise. The maximum sampling error of all percentages is not more than +/-4% at 95% confidence level, while the sampling errors of rating figures and net satisfaction rates need another calculation. The response rate of the rating survey is 69%.
Points to note:
[1] The address of the “HKU POP SITE” is http://hkupop.pori.hk, journalists can check out the details of the survey there.
[2] The sample size of the survey on people’s appraisal of local news media is 1,006 successful interviews, not 1,006 x 69.0% response rate.
[3] “95% confidence level” means that if we were to repeat a certain survey 100 times, using the same questions each time but with different random samples, we would expect 95 times getting a figure within the error margins specified. When quoting these figures, journalists can state “sampling error of rating not more than +/-0.15 marks, sampling error of percentages not more than +/-4% and sampling error of net satisfaction rates not more than +/-8% at 95% confidence level”.
[4] Because of sampling errors in conducting the survey(s) and the rounding procedures in processing the data, the figures cannot be too precise, and the totals may not be completely accurate. Therefore, when quoting percentages of the survey(s), journalists should refrain from reporting decimal places, but when quoting the rating figures, one decimal place can be used.
[5] The data of this survey is collected by means of random telephone interviews conducted by real interviewers, not by any interactive voice system (IVS). If a research organization uses “computerized random telephone survey” to camouflage its IVS operation, it should be considered unprofessional.
Latest Figures
POP today releases on schedule via the “POP SITE” the latest figures of people’s appraisal of local news media. From 2014, POP enhanced the previous simple weighting method based on age and gender distribution to “rim weighting” based on age, gender and education (highest level attended) distribution. The latest figures released today have been rim-weighted according to provisional figures obtained from the Census and Statistics Department regarding the gender-age distribution of the Hong Kong population in 2015 year-end and the educational attainment (highest level attended) distribution collected in the 2011 Census. Herewith the contact information for the latest survey:
|
Date of survey |
Overall sample size |
Response rate |
Sampling error of percentages[6] |
|
11-14/4/2016 |
1,006 |
69.0% |
+/-3% |
[6] Calculated at 95% confidence level using full sample size. “95% confidence level” means that if we were to repeat a certain survey 100 times, using the same questions each time but with different random samples, we would expect 95 times getting a figure within the error margins specified.
Recent figures are summarized as follows:
|
Date of survey |
23-30/9/14 |
13-16/4/15 |
24-30/9/15 |
11-14/4/16 |
Latest change |
|
Sample base[7] |
1,032 |
1,024 |
1,046 |
1,006 |
-- |
|
Overall response rate |
67.7% |
69.1% |
61.8% |
69.0% |
-- |
|
Finding |
Finding |
Finding |
Finding |
Finding and error[8] |
-- |
|
Credibility rating of the local news media in general |
5.84[10] |
5.72 |
5.86 |
5.87+/-0.15 |
+0.01 |
|
Freedom of the press in HK: Satisfaction rate[9] |
55%[10] |
46%[10] |
47% |
46+/-4% |
-1% |
|
Freedom of the press in HK: Dissatisfaction rate[9] |
25%[10] |
29% |
29% |
33+/-4% |
+4% |
|
Net satisfaction rate |
30%[10] |
17%[10] |
17% |
13+/-7% |
-4% |
|
Mean value[9] |
3.4[10] (Base=596) |
3.2[10] (Base=605) |
3.2 (Base=687) |
3.1+/-0.1 (Base=592) |
-0.1 |
|
Perceived the local news media to be responsible in their reporting[9] |
29%[10] |
26% |
31%[10] |
35+/-4% |
+4% |
|
Perceived the local news media to be irresponsible in their reporting[9] |
26%[10] |
32%[10] |
31% |
29+/-4% |
-2% |
|
Net value |
3% |
-6%[10] |
0% |
6+/-6% |
+6% |
|
Mean value[9] |
3.0 (Base=611) |
2.9 (Base=562) |
2.9 (Base=601) |
3.0+/-0.1 (Base=603) |
+0.1 |
|
Perceived that the local news media had given full play to the freedom of speech |
61% |
63% |
57%[10] |
60+/-4% |
+3% |
|
Perceived that the local news media had not given full play to the freedom of speech |
29% |
32% |
33% |
32+/-4% |
-1% |
|
Net value |
32% |
30% |
24% |
29+/-8% |
+5% |
|
Perceived that the local news media had misused/abused the freedom of press |
50% |
54% |
55% |
55+/-4% |
-- |
|
Perceived that the local news media had not misused/abused the freedom of press |
36%[10] |
33% |
35% |
32+/-4% |
-3% |
|
Net value |
15% |
21% |
21% |
22+/-7% |
+1% |
|
Perceived that the local news media had practiced self-censorship |
47% |
52%[10] |
55% |
52+/-4% |
-3% |
|
Perceived that the local news media had not practiced self-censorship |
28% |
34%[10] |
28%[10] |
31+/-4% |
+3% |
|
Net value |
19% |
18% |
27%[10] |
21+/-7% |
-6% |
|
Perceived that the local news media had scruples when criticizing the HKSAR Government |
46%[10] |
47% |
48% |
47+/-4% |
-1% |
|
Perceived that the local news media had no scruples when criticizing the HKSAR Government |
45%[10] |
48% |
44% |
48+/-4% |
+4% |
|
Net value |
<1%[11] |
-1% |
4% |
-1+/-8% |
-5% |
|
Perceived that the local news media had scruples when criticizing the Central Government |
58% |
58% |
62% |
63+/-4% |
+1% |
|
Perceived that the local news media had no scruples when criticizing the Central Government |
34% |
35% |
29%[10] |
27+/-4% |
-2% |
|
Net value |
24% |
22% |
33%[10] |
36+/-7% |
+3% |
[7] Starting from 2011, these questions only use sub-samples of the tracking surveys concerned, the sample size for each question also varies. The sub-sample sizes of this survey range from 588 to 650, and the increased sampling errors have already been reflected in the figures tabulated.
[8] All error figures in the table are calculated at 95% confidence level. “95% confidence level” means that if we were to repeat a certain survey 100 times, using the same questions each time but with different random samples, we would expect 95 times getting a figure within the error margins specified. Media can state “sampling error of rating not more than +/-0.15 mark, sampling error of percentages not more than +/-4% and sampling error of net satisfaction rates not more than +/-8% at 95% confidence level” when quoting the above figures. The error margin of previous survey can be found at the POP Site.
[9] Collapsed from a 5-point scale. The mean value is calculated by quantifying all individual responses into 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 marks according to their degree of positive level, where 1 is the lowest and 5 the highest, and then calculate the sample mean.
[10] Such changes have gone beyond the sampling errors at the 95% confidence level under the same weighting method, meaning that they are statistically significant prima facie. However, whether numerical differences are statistically significant or not is not the same as whether they are practically useful or meaningful.
[11] More accurate figures are 45.8% minus 45.4% giving a net value of 0.4 percentage point.
Results of latest survey showed that, on a scale of 0-10, the latest credibility rating of the Hong Kong news media in general was 5.87 marks. Moreover, 46% of the respondents were satisfied with the freedom of the press in Hong Kong while 33% were dissatisfied, net satisfaction at positive 13 percentage points. The mean value is 3.1, meaning close to “half-half”. 35% perceived the local news media to be responsible in their reporting, 29% regarded the local news media as irresponsible, giving a net value of positive 6 percentage points. The mean value is 3.0, meaning “half-half”. 60% believed the local news media had given full play to the freedom of speech, net value at positive 29 percentage points, but 55% said they had misused or abused the freedom of press, net value at positive 22 percentage points. Besides, 52% of the respondents thought the local news media had practised self-censorship while 31% perceived the contrary, giving a net value of positive 21 percentage points. 47% thought they had scruples when criticizing the HKSAR Government, with a net value of negative 1 percentage point. 63% thought they had scruples when criticizing the Central Government, net value at positive 36 percentage points. The results of other questions such as people’s main source of news and their satisfaction on individual news media are shown below:
|
Date of survey |
23-30/9/14 |
13-16/4/15 |
24-30/9/15 |
11-14/4/16 |
Latest change |
|
Sample base[12] |
1,032 |
1,024 |
1,046 |
1,006 |
-- |
|
Overall response rate |
67.7% |
69.1% |
61.8% |
69.0% |
-- |
|
Finding |
Finding |
Finding |
Finding |
Finding and error[13] |
-- |
|
People’s main source of news: Television |
79% |
78% |
71%[16] |
77+/-4% |
+6%[16] |
|
People’s main source of news: Internet |
47% |
55%[16] |
52% |
48+/-4% |
-4% |
|
People’s main source of news: Newspaper |
50%[16] |
46% |
48% |
43+/-4% |
-5%[16] |
|
People’s main source of news: Radio |
24%[16] |
28% |
19%[16] |
21+/-3% |
+2% |
|
People’s main source of news: Friends |
14% |
11% |
12% |
11+/-3% |
-1% |
|
Perceived that television was the most trustworthy source |
41% |
42% |
37%[16] |
39+/-4% |
+2% |
|
Perceived that radio was the most trustworthy source |
13% |
13% |
16% |
15+/-3% |
-1% |
|
Perceived that newspaper was the most trustworthy source |
16%[16] |
19% |
17% |
15+/-3% |
-2% |
|
Perceived that internet was the most trustworthy source |
10% |
12% |
12% |
13+/-3% |
+1% |
|
Perceived that family member was the most trustworthy source |
7%[16] |
4% |
7%[16] |
5+/-2% |
-2% |
|
Satisfaction rate of radio[14] |
50% |
54% |
52% |
56+/-4% |
+4% |
|
Dissatisfaction rate of radio[14] |
9%[16] |
10% |
8% |
8+/-2% |
-- |
|
Net satisfaction rate |
41% |
44% |
44% |
49+/-5% |
+5% |
|
Mean value[14] |
3.5 (Base=565) |
3.5 (Base=502) |
3.6 (Base=464) |
3.7+/-0.1 (Base=483) |
+0.1 |
|
Satisfaction rate of television[14] |
54%[16] |
50% |
51% |
53+/-4% |
+2% |
|
Dissatisfaction rate of television[14] |
13%[16] |
14% |
16% |
18+/-3% |
+2% |
|
Net satisfaction rate |
42% |
36% |
35% |
35+/-6% |
-- |
|
Mean value[14] |
3.5 (Base=621) |
3.4 (Base=595) |
3.4 (Base=615) |
3.4+/-0.1 (Base=617) |
-- |
|
Satisfaction rate of internet[14] [15] |
36%[16] |
33% |
39%[16] |
35+/-4% |
-4% |
|
Dissatisfaction rate of internet[14] [15] |
16% |
15% |
14% |
15+/-3% |
+1% |
|
Net satisfaction rate |
21%[16] |
18% |
26%[16] |
20+/-5% |
-6%[16] |
|
Mean value[14] |
3.3 (Base=474) |
3.2 (Base=472) |
3.4[16] (Base=435) |
3.3+/-0.1 (Base=494) |
-0.1 |
|
Satisfaction rate of newspapers[14] |
32%[16] |
34% |
37% |
36+/-4% |
-1% |
|
Dissatisfaction rate of newspapers[14] |
21% |
26%[16] |
23% |
22+/-3% |
-1% |
|
Net satisfaction rate |
10%[16] |
8% |
14% |
14+/-6% |
-- |
|
Mean value[14] |
3.1[16] (Base=534) |
3.1 (Base=538) |
3.2 (Base=549) |
3.2+/-0.1 (Base=544) |
-- |
|
Satisfaction rate of magazines[14] |
9%[16] |
9% |
15%[16] |
14+/-3% |
-1% |
|
Dissatisfaction rate of magazines[14] |
43%[16] |
41% |
38% |
45+/-4% |
+7%[16] |
|
Net satisfaction rate |
-34% |
-32% |
-23%[16] |
-30+/-6% |
-7%[16] |
|
Mean value[14] |
2.4 (Base=487) |
2.5 (Base=451) |
2.6 (Base=455) |
2.5+/-0.1 (Base=509) |
-0.1 |
|
Satisfaction rate of news media in general[14] |
48% |
49% |
45% |
51+/-4% |
+6%[16] |
|
Dissatisfaction rate of news media in general[14] |
16% |
16% |
16% |
12+/-3% |
-4%[16] |
|
Net satisfaction rate |
32% |
33% |
29% |
39+/-6% |
+10%[16] |
|
Mean value[14] |
3.3 (Base=603) |
3.3 (Base=581) |
3.3 (Base=601) |
3.4+/-0.1 (Base=606) |
+0.1 |
[12] Starting from 2011, these questions only use sub-samples of the tracking surveys concerned, the sample size for each question also varies. The sub-sample sizes of this survey range from 553 to 665, and the increased sampling errors have already been reflected in the figures tabulated.
[13] All error figures in the table are calculated at 95% confidence level. “95% confidence level” means that if we were to repeat a certain survey 100 times, using the same questions each time but with different random samples, we would expect 95 times getting a figure within the error margins specified. Media can state “sampling error of percentages not more than +/-4% and that of net satisfaction rates not more than +/-6% at 95% confidence level” when quoting the above figures. The error margin of previous survey can be found at the POP Site.
[14] Collapsed from a 5-point scale. The mean value is calculated by quantifying all individual responses into 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 marks according to their degree of positive level, where 1 is the lowest and 5 the highest, and then calculate the sample mean.
[15] Question was first introduced in April 2010.
[16] Such changes have gone beyond the sampling errors at the 95% confidence level under the same weighting method, meaning that they are statistically significant prima facie. However, whether numerical differences are statistically significant or not is not the same as whether they are practically useful or meaningful.
Results of the survey also showed that, 77% and 48% of the respondents claimed their main sources of news were television and internet respectively, while 39% thought the news reported by the former channel was the most trustworthy. Regarding people’s appraisal of various news channels, 56% of the respondents were satisfied with the radio, whereas 53% were satisfied with the television. Net satisfactions of these two channels were positive 49 and 35 percentage points, and their mean values were 3.7 and 3.4 respectively, meaning in between “half-half” and “quite satisfied”. Comparatively speaking, people’s satisfaction with the internet and printed media was lower, as the respective satisfaction rates of the internet, newspaper and magazine were 35%, 36% and 14% only, and their net satisfactions stand at positive 20, positive 14 and negative 30 percentage points, mean values at 3.3, 3.2 and 2.5 respectively, meaning in between “half-half” and “quite satisfied” for the former two, and in between “quite dissatisfied” and “half-half” for the latter. All in all, the latest satisfaction rate of the above news media in general was 51%, net satisfaction at positive 39 percentage points, and the mean value is 3.4, meaning between “half-half” and “quite satisfied”.
Commentary
Edward Chit-Fai Tai, Senior Data Analyst of Public Opinion Programme, observed, “Compared to seven months ago, the general credibility rating of the news media has not changed much, the latest rating is 5.87 marks. People’s satisfaction with press freedom has slightly dropped to positive 13 percentage points. While the change is within sampling error, the latest figure is a new low since this survey item began in September 1997. Among various types of news media, television and the internet remain to be people’s main sources of news, newspaper continues to rank third, the percentage of people who regard it to be their main source of news registers a record low since the survey item began in October 2000. In terms of performance satisfaction, people are most satisfied with the performance of the radio, with net satisfaction standing at positive 49 percentage points. Television comes next, with net satisfaction standing at positive 35 percentage points, and remains at its historical low. People’s net satisfaction with the overall performance of the news media in general now stands at positive 39 percentage points, 10 percentage points higher than that registered in the previous survey, roughly back to the level registered in May 2013. Besides, most people think the media have given full play to press freedom, but at the same time misused or abused press freedom, 35% and 29% consider the media responsible and irresponsible in their reporting respectively, 52% believe Hong Kong’s news media have practiced self-censorship, with net satisfaction standing at positive 21 percentage points, mainly because of their hesitation to criticize the Central Government, while the percentage of those who thought the media have scruples when criticizing the HKSAR Government is roughly the same as those who thought otherwise. As for the reasons affecting people’s appraisal of the press, readers can make their own judgment after reading the list of events archived in our ‘Opinion Daily’ feature page in our ‘POP Site’.”
Future Releases (Tentative)
- April 21, 2016 (Thursday) 1pm to 2pm: Ratings of Top 10 Legislative Councillors
- April 26, 2016 (Tuesday) 1pm to 2pm: Popularity of CE and HKSAR Government
