SECTIONS

arts & leisure

finance

politics

reactions

reality check

BACKGROUND

home page

about us

contact us

press clippings

predictions

	Just the Facts, Please By Declan McCullagh January 29, 1999 Americans are sick and tired of lurid tales of AR-15-toting survivalists preparing for Y2K Armageddon. Instead, the media should focus on the nitty-gritty of whether local electric utilities and 911 services will be up-and-running come 2000. At least that's what a survey released today says. It was conducted in early January by the Freedom Forum's Media Studies Center. 1,002 adults were interviewed. The questions asked follow: 1. Overall, how would you rate the job the news media are doing — excellent, good, fair, or poor? 7% Excellent 38 Good 38 Fair 15 Poor 2 Don't know * Refused 2. Overall, where would you say you get most of your news from — television, newspapers, radio, magazines, the internet or some other source? (Probe if necessary: if you had to choose one which would it be?) 65% Television 21 Newspapers 9 Radio 1 Magazines 2 Internet 2 Some other source 1 Don't know * Refused 3. I'm going to read you a list of topics. For each one, please tell mewhether you've seen or heard a great deal, some, not much, or nothing at all about it. 3a. The impeachment of President Bill Clinton 87% A great deal 8 Some 3 Not much 1 Nothing at all * Don't know/refused 3b. The year 2000 computer issue 50% A great deal 30 Some 14 Not much 5 Nothing at all * Don't know/refused 3c. U.S. military action against Iraq 52% A great deal 35 Some 10 Not much 2 Nothing at all 1 Don't know 1 Refused 3d. Reforms in U.S. policy toward Cuba 6% A great deal 30 Some 36 Not much 25 Nothing at all 1 Don't know * Refused 3e. The labor dispute and settlement between players and owners in the National Basketball Association. 33% A great deal 31 Some 21 Not much 13 Nothing at all 1 Don't know * Refused 4. Based on what you've seen or heard, how would you rate news media coverage of: (Rotation) 4a. The impeachment of Bill Clinton? — Is it excellent, good, fair or poor? 24% Excellent number of respondents familiar with story=992 33 Good 22 Fair 18 Poor * Not familiar 3 Don't know 1 Refused 4b. The year 2000 computer problem? — Is it excellent, good, fair or poor? 8% Excellent 37 Good number of respondents familiar with story=949 36 Fair 13 Poor 1 Not familiar 5 Don't know * Refused 4c. U.S. military action against Iraq? — Is it excellent, good, fair or poor? 14% Excellent number of respondents familiar with story=982 47 Good 28 Fair 8 Poor 1 Not familiar 3 Don't know 1 Refused 4d. Reforms in U.S. policy toward Cuba? — Is it excellent, good, fair, or poor? 3% Excellent 21 Good number of respondents familiar with story=737 39 Fair 25 Poor 5 Not familiar 7 Don't know 1 Refused 4e. The labor dispute and settlement between players and owners in the National Basketball Association? — Is it excellent, good, fair or poor? 9% Excellent number of respondents familiar with story=862 38 Good 32 Fair 10 Poor 9 Not familiar 6 Don't know 1 Refused 5. Please tell me whether you agree or disagree with each of the following statements about newspapers/TV news: (Probe: Do you agree/disagree strongly or mildly?) [Half of respondents asked about newspapers (Number of respondents familiar with story=509); half were asked about TV news]. 5a. In times of crisis, newspapers/TV news can be counted upon to cover the news responsibly. (Probe: Do you agree/disagree strongly or mildly?) Newspapers (n=509) TV news (n=493) 31% Strongly agree 41% 38 Mildly agree 35 16 Mildly disagree 12 11 Strongly disagree 11 4 Don't know 1 * Refused 1 5b. Newspapers/TV news often offers helpful information that I can use to make practical decisions in my life. (Probe: Do you agree/disagree strongly or mildly?) Newspapers TV news 30% Strongly agree 22% 39 Mildly agree 42 15 Mildly disagree 17 13 Strongly disagree 18 3 Don't know * * Refused 1 5c. The choice of stories covered in newspapers/or TV newscasts is motivated mostly by the desire to attract the largest audience possible. (Probe: Do you agree/disagree strongly or mildly?) Newspapers TV news 61% Strongly agree 75% 25 Mildly agree 15 7 Mildly disagree 5 3 Strongly disagree 2 4 Don't know 2 * Refused 1 5d. An important function of newspapers/TV news is to suggest potential solutions to problems. (Probe: Do you agree/disagree strongly or mildly?) Newspapers TV news 14% Strongly agree 17% 31 Mildly agree 31 24 Mildly disagree 20 27 Strongly disagree 29 8 Don't know 3 1 Refused 1 6. To the best of your knowledge, how would you describe the year 2000 computer issue? (Ask open-ended) 37% A problem with the way dates encoded in computer programs 6 A computer virus/bug 22 Other (type verbatim)[being coded] 34 Don't know 1 Refused 7. As you may know, because of the way many computers have been programmed to recognize dates, many computer systems around the world have to be reprogrammed so that they will continue to operate properly once we reach the year 2000. This issue is sometimes referred to as the Year 2000 computer problem, the Millennium Bug or the Y2K problem. How closely, if at all, have you been following news about the year 2000 computer problem? — Very closely, somewhat closely, not very closely, or not at all. 16% Very closely 41 Somewhat closely 27 Not very closely 14 Not at all 1 Don't know 1 Refused 7a. When would you say you first started paying attention to the year 2000 computer issue? — Within the past month, 1 to 3 months ago, 3 to 6 months ago, 6 months to a year ago, or more than a year ago? 13% Within the past month 19 1-3 months ago 21 3-6 months ago 27 6 months to a year ago 18 More than a year ago 1 Don't know 1 Refused 8. Would you say you have gotten most of your information about the year 2000 computer issue from the news media, from conversations with others or from some other source? (If "other," record verbatim answer.) 59% News media 26 Conversations with others 10 From some other source 5 Don't know 1 Refused 9. From which news medium have you gotten most of your information about the year 2000 computer problem — television, radio, newspapers, magazines, the Internet or some other source? 51% Television 7 Radio 17 Newspapers 7 Magazines 5 Internet 1 Conversations with others (volunteered) 7 Some other source 4 Don't know * Refused 10. How would you rate the quality of coverage of the year 2000 computer issue story in/on (Q9) — would you say it has been excellent, good, fair, or poor? 13% Excellent 42 Good 32 Fair 7 Poor 6 Don't know 1 Refused 12. In general, would you say that the news media have provided (Read choices No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3)? 13% Too much coverage 40 Too little coverage 40 The right amount of coverage of the year 2000 computer problem 6 Don't know * /Refused 13. Please tell me whether you agree or disagree with each of the following statements: 13a. The year 2000 computer problem is basically a technical issue that doesn't require my attention. (Probe: Do you agree/disagree strongly or mildly?) 21% Strongly agree 19 Mildly agree 25 Mildly disagree 31 Strongly disagree 4 Don't know *1 Refused 13b. The year 2000 computer problem is one of the most important issues facing the country right now. (Probe: Do you agree/disagree strongly or mildly?) 30% Strongly agree 23 Mildly agree 21 Mildly disagree 21 Strongly disagree 4 Don't know *1 Refused 13c. Corporate and government officials have been thinking short-term and should have been telling the public about the year 2000 computer issue sooner. (Probe: Do you agree/disagree strongly or mildly?) 49% Strongly agree 22 Mildly agree 16 Mildly disagree 8 Strongly disagree 6 Don't know *1 Refused 14. Based on what you've seen or heard, do you think that the year 2000 computer problem will cause the United States major problems, minor problems or no problems at all? 25% major problems 25% Major problems 58 Minor problems 10 No problems at all 6 Don't know 1 Refused 15. Based on what you've seen or heard, do you think that the year 2000 computer problem will cause the rest of the world major problems, minor problems or no problems at all? 34% major problems 34% Major problems 48 Minor problems 7 No problems at all 11 Don't know * Refused 16. What about for you personally? Do you think the year 2000 computer problem will cause major problems, minor problems or no problems at all for you personally? 13% Major problems 50 Minor problems 32 No problems at all 5 Don't know * Refused 17. You may have heard that some people are building shelters, stockpiling food and withdrawing their money from banks and other investments because of the year 2000 computer issue. Based on your own understanding of the issue, would you say: (Read the choices No. 1 and No. 2). 70% That such people are overreacting to the situation 25 That some of these actions may be appropriate 5 Don't know 1 Refused 18. How seriously have you considered each of the following actions that might be taken in response to problems that might result from the year 2000 computer issue? — very seriously, somewhat seriously, not very seriously or not seriously at all? 18a. Withdrawing money from banks or other investments 13% Very seriously 19 Somewhat seriously 18 Not very seriously 48 No seriously at all 2 Don't know 1 Refused 18b. Stockpiling food and water 9% Very seriously 13 Somewhat seriously 20 Not very seriously 55 No seriously at all 2 Don't know 1 Refused 18c. Buying a generator or a wood stove 8% Very seriously 9 Somewhat seriously 19 Not very seriously 62 No seriously at all 1 Don't know 1 Refused 18d. Avoid travel on airlines on or around Jan. 1, 2000 23% Very seriously 14 Somewhat seriously 14 Not very seriously 46 No seriously at all 2 Don't know 2 Refused 18e. Helping your community get organized for the year 2000 computer problem. 9% Very seriously 20 Somewhat seriously 20 Not very seriously 49 No seriously at all 1 Don't know 1 Refused 18f. Preparing your own computer for potential year 2000 computer problems. 17% Very seriously 19 Somewhat seriously 12 Not very seriously 32 No seriously at all 18 Don't have a computer (VOL.) 2 Don't know 1 Refused 18g. Collecting paper records of all investments, bank accounts, insurance policies, etc. 33% Very seriously 21 Somewhat seriously 13 Not very seriously 31 No seriously at all 1 Don't know 1 Refused 19. I'm going to read a list of possible stories about the year 2000 computer problem that could be covered by the news media. For each one, please tell me how important that story would be to you — very important to you, somewhat important to you, not very important to you, or not important at all to you: 19a. Stories about strategies being taken by specific individuals in preparation for potential problems arising from the year 2000 computer problem. 23% Very important 41 Somewhat important 19 Not very important 12 No important at all 3 Don't know 1 Refused 19b. Stories about the work being done by your local government to fix the year 2000 computer issue. 48% Very important 33 Somewhat important 10 Not very important 5 No important at all 3 Don't know 1 Refused 19c. Stories about how prepared your local electric company is to deal with the year 2000 computer issue. 56% Very important 27 Somewhat important 8 Not very important 5 No important at all 3 Don't know 1 Refused 19. Stories about how prepared the airline industry is to deal with the year 2000 computer issue. 36% Very important 31 Somewhat important 16 Not very important 12 No important at all 3 Don't know 1 Refused 19e. Stories about how other communities are preparing for potential problems arising from the year 2000 computer issue. 27% Very important 42 Somewhat important 17 Not very important 9 No important at all 3 Don't know 1 Refused 19f. Stories about how prepared your bank is to deal with the year 2000 computer issue. 56% Very important 26 Somewhat important 8 Not very important 7 No important at all 2 Don't know 2 Refused 19g. Stories about how prepared medical establishments and 911 emergency services are to deal with the year 2000 computer issue. 64% Very important 21 Somewhat important 6 Not very important 5 No important at all 3 Don't know 1 Refused 19h. Stories about how prepared the US military is to deal with the year 2000 computer issue. 56% Very important 26 Somewhat important 8 Not very important 6 No important at all 3 Don't know 2 Refused 19i. Stories about how prepared other countries are to deal with the year 2000 computer issue. 37% Very important 36 Somewhat important 14 Not very important 9 No important at all 3 Don't know 1 Refused Now, Just a few questions for classification purposes. 27. Do you have access to a computer at home? 55% Yes 44 No * Don't know 1 Refused 28. Do you use a computer at work or at school? 54% Yes 43 No 1 Don't know 2 Refused 29. Do you have access to the Internet? (If yes: How often do you use the Internet? — every day, once a week, once a month, or less than once a month?) Number of respondents who have access to a computer=774 34% Every day 18 Once a week 7 Once a month 7 Less than once a month 30 No access 2 Don't know 2 Refused D1. Generally speaking, do you usually think of yourself as a Republican, a Democrat, an independent or what? 24% Republican 33 Democrat 31 Independent 6 Something else 3 Don't know 3 Refused D2. In politics as of today, do you consider yourself a liberal, a moderate, or a conservative? 23% Liberal 33 Moderate 34 Conservative 7 Don't know 3 Refused D3. In what year were you born? 23% 18-29 30 30-44 26 45-59 20 60+ D4. What was the last grade of school you completed? 3% Grade school or less 13 Some high school 35 High school 26 Some college 15 College grad 7 Post graduate 2 Don't know/refused D5. Are you black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American or something else? 11% Black 78 White 3 Hispanic 2 Asian 1 Native American 3 Something else 2 Don't know/refused D6. About how much was your total family income last year before taxes? (ASK RESPONDENT TO STOP WHEN YOU REACH THAT AMOUNT) Was it ... 19% Less than $25,000 30 25,000-50,000 15 50,000-75,000 7 75,000-100,000 4 100,000-125,000 3 More than 125,000 4 Don't know 16 Refused D7. Are you currently registered to vote or not? 80% Currently registered 19 Not registered 8 Don't know 2 Refused D8. Record Sex of Respondent 48% Male 52 Female (These results posted with the permission of the Media Studies Center.)		FEATURES Book Reviews Y2K already has spawned its own genre. We tell you what books are worth buying. Chip 'n Little Cartoons Chip 'n Little goes on TV Chip 'n Little visits John Koskinen Chip 'n Little saves the world Warning: This cartoon has been called "foolish and tasteless." Y2K from A to Z Y2K Haiku Traditionalists may be shocked. Mad Cow Culture What does Y2K have in common with today's Mad Cow Culture? Answer: Everything. Declan McCullagh's Y2K articles Psychology of Y2K LATEST NEWS As of December 31, 1999 Get Your T-Shirt Quick Bill Gates Does Y2K Reader Feedback A Sarcastic Calendar Cooking After the Apocalypse A Real Y2K Disaster Hitchhiker's Guide Meets Y2K