Results of our studies

IN BRIEF

Russians trust journalists more than before but less than teachers and professors. They believe this profession is important but not profitable much.

MOSCOW, January 11, 2013. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data describing how much Russians trust journalists among other professions; how Russians rank the mass media representatives; whether they think this profession is important, well-paying, and in demand.

Russians trust journalists less than scientists or teachers.  The average level of trust towards journalists makes up -3,25 points, whereas that of representatives of science and education makes up 3,89 and  3,83, respectively.  Professions that Russians trust more than journalists are priests (3,61), servicemen (3,59), and doctors (3,53). At the same time, the level of trust towards mass media representatives is higher than towards public servants (2,67), police officers and private entrepreneurs  (2,65, per each), and politicians  (2,58).

Russians increasingly trust journalists (an increase from 2,95 to 3,25 over the recent two years). More respondents also trust doctors (an increase from 3,41 to 3,53), private entrepreneurs  (from 2,59 to 2,65), and police officers (from 2,39 to 2,65).

Asked to assess different parameters of journalism, most of Russians report they perceive it as socially significant profession (3,77 points;  3,89 in 2011).  The prestige of this profession was assessed lower than before (a decrease from 3,70 to 3,53), as well as its profitability (a decrease from 3,55 to 3,39). Rarer Russians believe this profession is in demand in the labor market (a decrease from 3,54 to 3,47).

The initiative Russian opinion polls were conducted on December 22-23, 2012. 1600 respondents were interviewed at 138 sampling points in 46 regions of Russia. The margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.

How much do you trust representatives of the following professions?

Please, assess using a 1-to-5 point scale, where 1- fully trust, 5 - fully distrust.

(close-ended question, one answer per each line, average point)

 

2010

2012

Scientist

3,87

3,89

Teacher

3,79

3,83

Serviceman

3,67

3,59

Priest

3,74

3,61

Doctor

3,41

3,53

Private entrepreneur, businessman

2,58

2,65

Police officer

2,39

2,65

Public servant

2,47

2,67

Journalist

2,95

3,25

Politician

2,53

2,58

Assess the profession of journalism using a 1-to-5 point scale, where 1- the lowest assessment, 5 – the highest assessment.

(close-ended question, one answer per each line, average point)

 

2011

2012

Social importance

3,89

3,77

Social status and prestige

3,70

3,53

Demand in the labor market  

3,54

3,47

Salary rate

3,55

3,39

Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!

Read the article in Russian