| "Don't underestimate Americans' endless curiosity about the world."
-Charlotte Hall, managing editor, Newsday, Melville, N.Y. |
• A 1998 study by the Center for Survey Research
and Analysis for the Radio and Television News Directors Foundation found
that 88 percent of Americans surveyed are "very or somewhat interested"
in having local television cover more events from around the world.
• A July 1997 study by ABC News of the American
adult population found 34 percent saying they were "very interested" in
news about "international events."
• A 1996 Yankelovich study found 56 percent of
Americans age 13 and over to be either "very" or "moderately" interested
in international news.
• An April 1996 Pew study found 64 percent of
American adults followed international affairs either "very" or "somewhat"
closely. Some 16 percent said they followed news about international affairs
"very closely."
• A June 1996 Radio and Television News Directors
Foundation study found that 67 percent of Americans would not channel surf
past an international news story if it appeared on a television newscast.
• The 1998 ASNE Leveraging Newspaper Assets
report found that "world and national news" ranked fifth in a listing of
23 news/editorial topics. Some 71 percent said world/national news was
important, ahead of college/local sports (33/25 percent), national/local
business news (42/49 percent), and local government and political news
(57 percent). Only four other topics scored higher: local community/neighborhood
news (76 percent), the weather (77 percent), stories that dealt with local
problems (74 percent) and investigative pieces (72 percent).
