More Americans Turning To Web For News

According to a new Zogby poll, Americans continue to turn to the internet for news. Why? Because nearly 70 percent of Americans believe traditional journalism is out of touch, and almost half are turning to the Internet to get their news, according to the survey.

The findings, which were announced yesterday at a media forum in Miami, Fla. organized by a Virginia think tank, also noted that while most people think journalism is important to the quality of life, 64 percent are dissatisfied with the quality of journalism in their communities.

The poll canvassed 1,979 people for their opinion on media, credibility, where they get their news.

Now while that sample number may sound low, it is more than enough to get a cross-section of consumer practices -- and John Zogby is one of the best. In one of my previous professional lives, I directed public relations for a national firm that conducted consumer habits studies. The study results and raw data were used to help media companies, retailers and non-profits efficiently make micro-marketing decisions. One of the things I learned is that "38" is considered a statistically significant sample size.

Mainstream media, or "old media" as some have been calling it recently, need to take this as one more piece of evidence of how the public believes them to be "out of touch."