Government information policy is not getting through

Without the two mass media of television and daily newspapers, German citizens would be ill-advised when it comes to environmental protection. Television (90 %) and daily newspapers (75 %) are currently the most important sources of information on environmental issues. This is the result of a new representative survey conducted by the BAT Leisure Research Institute as part of the "Leisure and Environment" research programme.
"Both media obviously have a high degree of credibility," says Prof. Dr Horst W. Opaschowski, Scientific Director of the Institute: "In television and daily newspapers, information is provided through words and images. This enables German citizens to visualise environmental problems in concrete terms. Television ('You see this on TV every day') and newspapers ('You read this in the paper every day') convey vivid images that have an emotional impact, appeal personally and make people concerned".
This is the only explanation for the fact that the information value of radio is rated significantly lower than that of television (50 %). One in three respondents named their own circle of friends and acquaintances as another source of information.
The importance and impact of government information policy is extremely low. Only 8 % of German citizens cite the government as their main source of information. A further 10 % of respondents cite the political parties and 12 % the citizens' and environmental initiatives.
And another special feature: industry is regarded as the main cause of environmental damage, but in the opinion of the population contributes the least (2 %) to information about it.