BESLAN TRAGEDY: PEOPLE'S ATTITUDES

Television is the main source of information although Internet’s popularity is increasing

In order to follow current events, most residents of Makhachkala watch television (72%), which considerably outdistances the news media (24%), contacts with friends and relatives (22%), the Internet (15%), radio (10%), international TV (9%) and international radio (1.5%). The most popular television channel was ORT, which was mentioned by 37% of respondents, while 30% and 28% respectively indicated RTR and NTV.

Euronews turned out to be the most popular international television program, which is used as the main information source by 7% of respondents. Most listened-to radio news broadcasts in Makhachkala are GTRK (5%), Mayak (3.5%), Echo of Moscow and Radio Rossiya (1% each). However, Radio Liberty (1%) and BBC (0.5%), foreign radio stations, were also mentioned.

Among the newspapers, Dagestanskaya Pravda (7.5%) and Novoje Delo (6%) were in the lead, way ahead of Moskovsky Komsomolets (3.5%), Nezavisimaya Gazeta (3%), Izvestiya (2.5%) and Kommersant (2%).

It should be noted that an increase in the popularity of the Internet is becoming a source of information and is increasingly replacing both international TV and radio. More men than women use the Internet in a ratio of three to one. The most popular news sites were RIA Novosti (5%), REGNUM (2.5%) and Interfaks (2%).

Regarding trustworthiness of information sources, it is television (52%), friends and relatives (23%) and the press (20%) that are trusted the most. Among TV channels, the greatest confidence is in ORT (27%), followed by RTR (22%) and NTV (20%). 7% have confidence in Euronews. Leading newspapers are Dagestanskaya Pravda (5%) and Novoye Delo (4.5%), as well as Moskovsky Komsomolets, Nezavisimaya Gazeta and Izvestiya (2.5% each).

The Internet (12%) and radio (11%) also enjoy a high level of trust of which are RIA Novosti (3%) and REGNUM (2%). Among radio stations, the most trustworthy are GTRK (6%), Mayak (2.5%), Echo of Moscow (1.5%) and Radio Rossiya (1%). Among foreign radio stations the greatest confidence is in Radio Liberty (1.5%) and BBC (0.5%).

Note: The poll was conducted in Makhachkala on June 3-10 and included 200 people (100 men and 100 women) over the age of 16. Two answers were allowed for some questions.