BESLAN TRAGEDY: PEOPLE'S ATTITUDES

In reply to a question about its main sources of information, the overwhelming majority of the residents of Nazran mentioned television. The most popular channels were NTV (52%), RTR (22%) and ORT (16%), and also TVTs (2%). The popularity of the state-run “Ingushetiya" channel as a source of news proved to be extremely low - this channel was mentioned by only 1% of those questioned. A similar number of respondents indicated the international channels SVTs-1 and Euronews as their main sources of information.

Radio proved to be a considerably less popular source of information. 9% of those questioned indicated Ekho Moskvy, 4% mentioned Radio Liberty, and only 1% indicated Radio Rossiya and the BBC.

Of the printed media, the most popular sources of information proved to be the newspapers Serdalo (6%), Novaya Gazeta (5%), Ingushetiya (4%) and Izvestiya (4%). Additionally mentioned were Nezavisimaya Gazeta (2%), Argumenty i fakty (2%), Moskovskie Novosti (1%) and Obyedinennaya Gazeta (1%).

The Internet showed growing popularity as a source of information. Among the most frequently visited sites were Ingushetiya.ru (6%), Kavkaz.memo.ru (3%) and Ingush.ru (2%). In addition to these, respondents mentioned Magas.ru (1%), Ingform.ru (1%), Kavkazcenter (1%), Lenta.ru (1%) and Yandex.ru (1%).

Together with the electronic and printed media, the substantial part of those interrogated (30%) named as the basic information source contact with their friends and relatives.

Although the population consider Russian television as their main source of information, their degree of confidence in it proved to be rather low. Thus, 52% consider NTV their main information source, but only 33% trust this channel. 22% of those questioned use RTR as their main information source 22%, but only 4% trust it. ORT is used by 16% of respondents as their main information source, but only 8% trust this channel. The degree of confidence in TVTs coincided with the number of those who use this channel as their main source of news (2%). The same number of those questioned (2%) said they trusted the information broadcast on Euronews, and this is typical of the entire region.

On the other hand, the number of those who trust the radio station Ekho Moskvy (14%) considerably exceeded the number of those who use it as their basic source of information (9%). 3% of respondents said they trusted Radio Liberty, and 2% the BBC.

Among the printed media, respondents showed the greatest trust in Serdalo (6%), Novaya Gazeta (4%) and Severny Kavkaz (2%). The number of those who trust Nezavisimaya Gazeta (1%), Izvestiya (2%) and Ingushetya (1%) proved to be considerably lower than the number of those who use those publications as their main source of information.

Trust in the majority of Internet sites indicated as a basic information source also proved to be considerably lower than the number of those using these sites as their main source of information. Thus, although the site Ingushetiya.ru was indicated as the basic information source for 6% of those questioned, only 1% said they trusted this site. Some respondents indicated all human rights and independent sites as deserving of trust (1%).

The respondents have a fairly high degree of trust in contact with friends and relatives (28%).