Ideological differences between Australian journalists and their public

Considerable international evidence points to a general liberal positioning and preference for nonconservative political parties on the part of journalists, but less is known about the detail of journalists' ideological values. This article applies attitudinal tests designed to measure conservatism versus liberalism to random samples of journalists and citizens in Australia. It is found that in most dimensions of liberalism-conservatism, including attitudes toward welfare, industrial relations, crime and punishment, ethnic diversity, religion, and sexual and social issues, journalists are significantly more liberal than the general public.