Study Finds Aussies Want Journos To Shut Up About Their Opinions On Socials

London, UK - July 30, 2018: The buttons of the photo app Instagram, surrounded by WhatsApp, Facebook, Messages and other apps on the screen of an iPhone.
Mary Madigan
By Mary Madigan



Digital News has conducted a report that has found most Aussies don’t want their journalists expressing their personal beliefs and opinions on social media!

Probably not the news that Fauziah Ibrahim wants to hear!  Ibrahim has been facing criticism after two lists were made public from her personal Twitter account. But interestingly despite our social media soaked times Australian’s would prefer journalists to keep their biases to themselves and off their social accounts.

To break it down, 52 per cent of respondents shared that reporters should stick to the news. However, 1/3 disagreed and said journalists should be able to share their personal opinions online. However, the report found that younger groups were far more likely to believe journalists should be able to share their beliefs on social media.  So clearly it is an evolving debate!

To break it down even further! World-wide 46 per cent of people between 18-34 thought journalists should be able to express their opinions alongside delivering the news. While, only 29 per cent of people from the age group 55+ agreed. So there’s definitely a generational trend emerging.

Interestingly the study also found that mastheads are more important than journos with 43 per cent of respondents admitting they pay attention to the media outlet over the individual.

Of course, these questions are beginning to be asked in Journalist studies because more and more companies are creating social media rules and conducts for staff.




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