Exploring Journalists' Perceptions of Media Impact

Abstract

How journalists perceive media influence was explored by comparing results from a survey of Israeli journalists (n = 200) and a survey of the Israeli adult population (n = 1,203). As predicted, journalists demonstrated significant third-person perceptions (TPPs), but these were actually smaller than those of the public. Journalists tended more than the public to perceive media influence as positive. Journalists perceiving a stronger media influence were relatively new journalists and worked for local media, but had some formal education in journalism.