I'm beginning to doubt polls...fer sure

The more polls I read the more I'm convinced some "suggest" what the respondents should answer. If that isn't the case, the people lie. They tell the pollster what they think the pollster wants to hear. Note: This is a general critique and not aimed at PEW. But come on, what follows stinks to high heaven.

Although the size and scope of the American news media have changed dramatically since the 1980s, audience news interests and preferences have remained surprisingly static. Of the two major indices of interest that are the focus of this report -- overall level of interest in news and preferences for various types of news -- neither has changed very much. This has been especially true for news preferences; Americans continue to follow -- or to ignore -- the same types of stories now as they did two decades ago. News "tastes," measured among 19 separate categories of news, have barely shifted at all: Disaster News and Money News continue to be of greatest interest to the U.S. public; Tabloid News and Foreign News remain the least interesting. [emphasis mine]

Via THE PEW RESEARCH CENTER.

Then we have this.

An overwhelming majority of the public (87%) says celebrity scandals receive too much news coverage. This criticism generally holds across most major demographic and political groups. Virtually no one thinks there is too little coverage of celebrity scandals.

Lets get serious here. Tabloid/celebrity reporting sells. Its what the peeps want. People, Us, In Touch, Celebrity, Gala, Enquirer, OK!, Hot magazines, Entertainment Tonight on TV (among many) and Faux News anyone?

Supply and demand. The public wants a supply and the media provide it. Think of it as prostitution which isn't a far stretch.

Note: If you recognize that graphic as a Second Life prostitute, you are in serious need of therapy. May I suggest my therapist? On second thought, she isn't really helping me very much.

Via THE PEW RESEARCH CENTER.