HKU POP SITE releases people's appraisal of local news mediaBack

Press Release on September 14, 2010

Abstract

The Public Opinion Programme (POP) at the University of Hong Kong interviewed 1,011 Hong Kong people between 7 and 11 September by means of a random telephone survey conducted by real interviewers. The survey finds that compared to five months ago, the general credibility rating of the news media has significantly increased, to a record high since September 1998. More than 60% of Hong Kong people are satisfied with the performance of the local news media, which is record high since the handover, but the figure is still lower than people's satisfaction with press freedom. Among various types of news media, people are still most satisfied with the television, followed by radio, with net satisfaction standing at positive 70 and 57 percentage points respectively. The net satisfaction rates of newspapers and the internet now stand at positive 23 and 20 percentage points respectively, while that of magazines stands at negative 41 percentage points. Most people think the media has given full play to press freedom, but at the same time misused or abused press freedom. More than half believe news media have practiced self-censorship, mainly because of their hesitation to criticize the Central Government, but not so when criticizing the HKSAR Government. The maximum sampling error of percentages is not more than +/-3% at 95% confidence level while that of ratings is below +/-0.09 marks. The response rate of the rating survey is 65%.

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 1,011 successful interviews, not 1,011 x 65.3% response rate.
[3] The maximum sampling error of all percentages is between +/-1 and +/-3 percentage points at 95% confidence level, while the sampling error of the rating figure is below +/-0.09 marks. "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 +/-0.09marks and sampling error of percentages not more than +/-3% at 95% confidence level".
[4] When quoting percentages of this survey, journalists should refrain from reporting decimal places, but when quoting the rating figures, one decimal place can be used, in order to match the precision level of the figures.
[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 popularity figures of people's appraisal of local news media. As a general practice, all figures have been weighted according to provisional figures obtained from the Census and Statistics Department regarding the gender-age distribution of the Hong Kong population in mid-year 2010.

Herewith the contact information for the latest survey on people's appraisal of local news media:

Date of survey	Overall sample size	Response rate	Sampling error of percentages^[6]
7-11/9/2010	1,011	65.3%	+/-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	6-9/4/09	7-13/9/09	15-25/4/10	7-11/9/2010	Latest Change
Sample base	1,010	1,002	1,020	1,011	--
Overall response rate	67.5%	69.7%	69.8%	65.3%	--
Finding	Finding	Finding	Finding	Finding and Error^[7]	--
Credibility rating of the local news media in general	6.09^[9]	6.25^[9]	6.18	6.53+/-0.09	+0.35^[9]
Freedom of the press in HK: Satisfaction rate^[8]	74%	75%	71%^[9]	73+/-3%	+2%
Freedom of the press in HK: Dissatisfaction rate^[8]	7%	9%	14%^[9]	11+/-2%	-3%^[9]
Perceived the local news media to be responsible in their reporting^[8]	29%	34%^[9]	32%	41+/-3%	+9%^[9]
Perceived the local news media to be irresponsible in their reporting^[8]	28%	24%^[9]	29%^[9]	17+/-2%	-12%^[9]
Perceived that the local news media had given full play to the freedom of speech	75%	75%	71%^[9]	73+/-3%	+2%
Perceived that the local news media had not given full play to the freedom of speech	20%	21%	23%	21+/-3%	-2%
Perceived that the local news media had misused/abused the freedom of press	67%^[9]	59%^[9]	62%	61+/-3%	-1%
Perceived that the local news media had not misused/abused the freedom of press	26%^[9]	33%^[9]	30%	32+/-3%	+2%
Perceived that the local news media had practised self-censorship	47%	51%^[9]	48%	51+/-3%	+3%
Perceived that the local news media had not practised self-censorship	40%	34%^[9]	40%^[9]	34+/-3%	-6%^[9]
Perceived that the local news media had scruples when criticizing the HKSAR Government	31%	27%^[9]	30%	34+/-3%	+4%^[9]
Perceived that the local news media had no scruples when criticizing the HKSAR Government	65%	69%^[9]	66%	60+/-3%	-6%^[9]
Perceived that the local news media had scruples when criticizing the Central Government	65%^[9]	59%^[9]	63%^[9]	63+/-3%	--
Perceived that the local news media had no scruples when criticizing the Central Government	30%	33%	31%	31+/-3%	--

[7] 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 +/-0.09 mark, sampling error of percentages not more than +/-3% at 95% confidence level" when quoting the above figures. The error margin of previous survey can be found at the POP Site.
[8] Collapsed from a 5-point scale.
[9] Such changes have gone beyond the sampling errors at the 95% confidence level, 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 latest survey showed that, on a scale of 0-10, the latest credibility rating of the Hong Kong news media in general was 6.53 marks. Moreover, 73% of the respondents were satisfied with the freedom of the press in Hong Kong, 41% perceived the local news media to be responsible in their reporting, 73% believed the local news media had given full play to the freedom of speech, but 61% said they had misused or abused the freedom of press. Besides, 51% of the respondents thought the local news media had practised self-censorship while 34% perceived the contrary, 34% thought they had scruples when criticizing the HKSAR Government, whereas 63% thought they had scruples when criticizing the Central Government. 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	6-9/4/09	7-13/9/09	15-25/4/2010	7-11/9/2010	Latest change
Sample base	1,010	1,002	1,020	1,011	--
Overall response rate	67.5%	69.7%	69.8%	65.3%	--
Finding	Finding	Finding	Finding	Finding and Error^[10]	--
People's main source of news: Television	86%	83%^[13]	85%	84+/-2%	-1%
People's main source of news: Newspaper	75%	68%^[13]	69%	69+/-3%	--
People's main source of news: Internet	37%^[13]	39%	36%	42+/-3%	+6%^[13]
People's main source of news: Radio	37%	32%^[13]	33%	27+/-3%	-6%^[13]
People's main source of news: Friend	12%	12%	11%	15+/-2%	+4%^[13]
Perceived that television was the most trustworthy source	59%	55%^[13]	51%^[13]	57+/-3%	+6%^[13]
Perceived that newspaper was the most trustworthy source	13%	18%^[13]	17%	15+/-2%	-2%
Perceived that radio was the most trustworthy source	14%	13%	15%	11+/-2%	-4%^[13]
Perceived that internet was the most trustworthy source	4%	4%	5%	4+/-1%	-1%
Perceived that family member was the most trustworthy source	3%^[13]	2%	2%	2+/-1%	--
Satisfaction rate of television^[11]	72%	66%^[13]	73%^[13]	74+/-3%	+1%
Dissatisfaction rate of television^[11]	4%	6%	7%	4+/-2%	-3%^[13]
Satisfaction rate of radio^[11]	60%^[13]	56%^[13]	66%^[13]	61+/-3%	-5%^[13]
Dissatisfaction rate of radio^[11]	4%	3%	6%^[13]	4+/-1%	-2%^[13]
Satisfaction rate of newspaper^[11]	37%	38%	41%	39+/-3%	-2%
Dissatisfaction rate of newspaper^[11]	17%	18%	19%	16+/-2%	-3%^[13]
Satisfaction rate of internet^{[11] [12]}	--	--	35%	31+/-3%	-4%^[13]
Dissatisfaction rate of internet^{[11] [12]}	--	--	13%	11+/-2%	-2%
Satisfaction rate of magazine^[11]	7%	8%	9%	7+/-2%	-2%
Dissatisfaction rate of magazine^[11]	45%^[13]	44%	53%^[13]	48+/-3%	-5%^[13]
Satisfaction rate of news media in general^[11]	50%	53%	60%^[13]	62+/-3%	+2%
Dissatisfaction rate of news media in general^[11]	8%	8%	8%	5+/-1%	-3%^[13]

[10] 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 +/-3% at 95% confidence level" when quoting the above figures. The error margin of previous survey can be found at the POP Site.
[11] Collapsed from a 5-point scale.
[12] Question was first introduced in April 2010.
[13] Such changes have gone beyond the sampling errors at the 95% confidence level, 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, 84% and 69% of the respondents claimed their main source of news was television and newspaper respectively, while 57% thought the news reported by the former channel was the most trustworthy. Regarding people's appraisal of various news channels, 74% of the respondents were satisfied with the television, whereas 61% were satisfied with the radio. Comparatively speaking, people's satisfaction with the printed media and the internet was lower, as the respective satisfaction rates of the newspaper, the internet and the magazine were 39%, 31% and 7% only. All in all, the latest satisfaction rate of the above news media in general was 62%.

Commentary

Robert Ting-Yiu Chung, Director of Public Opinion Programme, observed, "Compared to five months ago, our latest survey shows that the general credibility rating of the news media has significantly increased, to a record high since September 1998. More than 60% of Hong Kong people are satisfied with the performance of the local news media, which is record high since the handover, but the figure is still lower than people's satisfaction with press freedom. Among various types of news media, people are still most satisfied with the television, followed by radio, with net satisfaction standing at positive 70 and 57 percentage points respectively. The net satisfaction rates of newspapers and the internet now stand at positive 23 and 20 percentage points respectively, while that of magazines stands at negative 41 percentage points. Most people think the media has given full play to press freedom, but at the same time misused or abused press freedom. More than half believe news media have practiced self-censorship, mainly because of their hesitation to criticize the Central Government, but not so when criticizing the HKSAR Government. 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 Release (Tentative)

September 21, 2010 (Tuesday) 1pm to 2pm: Six trust and confidence indicators