Instead of focusing exclusively on leaders and pundits, media outlets seek ways of both informing and being informed by people in their community. Newspapers, radio and television may be privately owned but their role in preserving and extending democracy is absolutely central. In a survey done about a year ago and little reported by the media, Ekos Research found that the vast majority of Canadians have a worse opinion of the media than they do about government. Forty per cent of the 2,000 people asked said they had little confidence in the media. Thirty-seven per cent think the media is doing a worse job today than five years ago, compared to only 29 per cent who said that about government.
People also believe the media has way too much power.
In fact, in a list of who should have more or less power in society, the media tops the list as the institution that people believe has too much power and should have a lot less. They are too worried about the competition.