For five years, journalists have reported on the Iraq war from abroad and at home, telling stories about lives lost or forever changed, the economic impact of the war and the medical mistreatment of soldiers at Walter Reed Hospital.
A new study commissioned by The Poynter Institute to learn more about Americans' views on Iraq war coverage reveals that of the 8,683 adults surveyed earlier this month, 75 percent feel well-informed. But the majority of readers, viewers and listeners say they are still far from satisfied with the coverage.
Among participants of the online survey, conducted by Zogby International, 47 percent described the coverage as "poor" and 33 percent rated it "fair." About 16 percent called it "good," while 2 percent regarded it as "excellent." Of those surveyed, 90 percent describe themselves as active consumers of news.
The study reveals a deep dissatisfaction with war coverage and provides information journalists can use to learn more about what the public wants.
The survey, which was funded by the McCormick Foundation, provides a breakdown of the war-related topics participants consider "very important." Three-quarters consider coverage about stateside medical care of veterans very important. Fifty-six percent said stories on post traumatic stress disorder were very important. Participants also considered medical care the topic they have read and heard about most, followed by post traumatic stress disorder and the war's economic impact.
http://www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=101&aid=143774