An analysis of media usage and attitudes toward the media of Air Force officers in the Pentagon

The relationship between the military and the news media has long been characterized as one of hostility and distrust. The purpose of this study was to determine just how accurate that characterization is among one military group. Air Force officers serving in the Pentagon in June 1987. Specifically, media use patterns and attitudes toward the media were investigated through a random survey of the target group. Data were collected from 305 officers in the grades of second lieutenant through colonel. The survey instrument, a questionnaire, also provided Information on the officers' professional reading habits.

As a group, the respondents are heavy media users. For both television news and newspapers, they exceed the average usage established by previous research. Senior officers are the heaviest users of the media overall and consider newspapers to be their primary source of news. Junior officers prefer television. The respondents indicate surprisingly strong support for the media with 76 percent saying their level of confidence in newspapers is "high" or "moderate." Six of ten revealed a similar level of confidence in television news. Nine of ten officers read at least one book in the last year.