|
Nation-wide home interviews conducted June 24-25 2006 in 100 residencies in 44 regions. A sample size of 1500 respondents. The margin of error does not exceed 3,6%.
Public interest in politics is not high. 39% of respondents surveyed stated that they follow politics, while a majority (58%) have no interest.
Responses to this survey question have remained similarly distributed since October 2004. Typically, political interest is stronger among respondents with a higher education (59%), middle-aged respondents (49%), and those with a relatively high income (48%).
This poll examines coverage of politics by the mass media, particularly TV coverage. According to poll data, the majority of Russians watch news programs on TV regularly: 40% of those surveyed said they do every day, while 21% watch 3–4 times per week. Of course, those interested in politics are noticeably more likely to watch TV political coverage. Among those expressing no interest in politics, 46% say they watch TV news at least 3 times per week.
Respondents express negative opinions regarding the comprehensiveness and objectivity of political coverage. Forty-five percent of respondents referred to a dearth of political coverage, while 29% believe that coverage is comprehensive. At the same time, 43% of those surveyed consider TV political coverage to be unbiased, while 31% hold the opposite view. Opinions of respondents interested and uninterested in politics differ little. Among the second group of respondents the share of those had difficulty expressing an opinion on this issue is noticeably higher, though the predominance of negative views on TV political coverage is about the same in both groups of respondents.
| Total | Those interested in politics | Those uninterested in politics | | Percentage of respondents | 100 | 38 | 59 | | Question: "In your opinion, is TV coverage of politics in Russia objective or biased?" | | Objective | 31 | 40 | 26 | | Biased | 43 | 48 | 39 | | Hard to answer | 26 | 13 | 35 | | Question: "In your opinion, is TV political coverage sufficiently comprehensive or not?" | | Comprehensive | 29 | 37 | 24 | | Insufficient | 45 | 54 | 39 | | Hard to answer | 26 | 9 | 37 |
Russians are inclined to have a positive view of the quality of TV political coverage: 32% of those surveyed think that TV reports on political issues have become more interesting, while 15% think political coverage is becoming less interesting. According to 38% of respondents, there is too much political information on TV, while only 8% complained of insufficient political coverage. Those interested in politics are more likely to state that political coverage has become more interesting and extensive (48% each).
A noticeable share of respondents think that neither the quantity of information nor the content in general have changed since the last survey period. These respondents tend to have a negative view of TV political coverage. Moreover, they are likely to maintain that coverage has remained at the same overall poor level. We can see this in their evaluations regarding the comprehensiveness and objectivity of TV coverage.
| Total | Does media political coverage seem more, less, or as interesting as a few years ago? | | More interesting | As interesting as a few years ago | Less interesting | | Percentage of respondents | 100 | 32 | 29 | 15 | | Question: " In your opinion, is TV political coverage objective or biased?" | | Objective | 31 | 52 | 28 | 16 | | Biased | 43 | 34 | 50 | 71 | | Hard to answer | 26 | 13 | 22 | 13 | | Question: "In your opinion, does Russian TV cover domestic politics extensively or insufficiently?" | | Extensively | 29 | 47 | 29 | 16 | | Insufficiently | 45 | 42 | 50 | 70 | | Hard to answer | 26 | 10 | 21 | 14 |
This poll also explores the coverage of opposition views in the media. About half of those surveyed – 44% – think the opposition has an opportunity to express their views on TV, while 27% hold the opposite opinion. It is interesting to compare the opinions of respondents with different party affiliations.
| Total | Question: "Imagine that parliamentary elections will be held this Sunday. Which of the following parties would you vote for? (One response allowed per card)?" | | United Russia | KPRF | LDPR | Homeland ("Rodina") | Yabloko | None of them | | Question: "Do opposition parties have an opportunity to voice their views on TV, or are they deprived of the chance?" | | Have the opportunity | 44 | 56 | 35 | 47 | 29 | 41 | 34 | | Deprived of the chance | 27 | 20 | 42 | 29 | 53 | 49 | 46 |
As we can see, United Russia and LDPR voters are noticeably more likely to believe that opposition views receive adequate TV coverage than Yabloko, KPRF, and Rodina voters.
Respondents seem to be satisfied with changes in the way the mass media cover politics in general. However, the comprehensiveness and objectivity of coverage is considered to be inadequate by a relative majority of respondents. At the same time, the representation of different political views in not considered to be the principal criterion of objectivity. Among those believing TV coverage of politics to be biased, 39% think the opposition can express their views on TV today, while 42% do not think so.
Peter Bavin
|
