Questionnaire

Information needs and information seeking behaviour of journalists online

This questionnaire is intended for journalists, both part- and full time, and professional researchers working for media companies. This may include journalism-students and others who are currently undergoing any education with the aim of becoming a journalist, as long as this education has already involved some sort of practical journalistic work.

If you are not a member of any of these groups, please do not fill out the survey! Thank you.

Thank you very much for completing the questionnaire. You will assist in improving USUS, and help a student to complete his thesis about the information needs and information seeking behaviour of journalists online. If you are interested in receiving the thesis, once it's done, please leave your email-address at the end of the questionnaire.

You may leave the survey at any time by pressing on the "next button" at the end of the page and leaving the survey afterwards. (Pressing the next-button saves the data you have supplied so far).

The survey contains both questions about journalism in general and USUS. So it might be a good idea to take a look at USUS before you fill out the questionnaire.

Thank you!

1. Demographics

Age:

Are you male female

Primary Language (i.e. the language you use most during the week):
Other language (if yours was not listed above):

Country of residence: Other country:

How long have you been using the Internet or other online media (e.g. BTX, Minitel, Fidonet, Milnet, CSNet, Zerberus-Net)?
Less than 3 months
Less than 6 months
Less than a year
Between one and two years
Between two and three years
More than three years

How would you rate your Internet-literacy?
Beginner Moderate Advanced Pro

2. Professional characteristics:

Are you a
editor
sub-editor
staffer
freelancer
researcher for a media-company
undergoing journalistic training

What type of medium do you work for
(please check all that apply):
Wire-service
Radio
Newspaper Daily? Weekly? Other?
Tabloid? Daily? Weekly? Other?
Computer or Internet-related magazine
Any other type of Magazine.
Does the magazine appear: Weekly? Monthly? Other?
TV
Website
Other
Optional: Please give name or URL of the medium

How many viewers/readers do you have?
Numbers only, please. No letters! i.e. 30000 not 30 tsd.

Please name your three main sources for news-stories

1. 2. 3.

Which section are you working for?
(please check all that apply):
News
Politics
Culture
Sports
Economy
Computer/Technology
Travel
Science
Other

3. Internet Access

Is your email-address visible to your viewers/readers? Yes No

Do you think that this is a good idea? Yes No

Please specify why you feel that way

Do you have Internet access at home? at work? both at home and at work?
If you have internet access both at home and at work: Which one do you use more? At HomeAt work

Does your company have a website? YesNo (Optional: URL )

Do you have a website? YesNo (Optional: URL )

At what speed do you access the net most of the time?
14,4 28,8 33,6 56K ISDN T1 T3 don't know

Do you have access to commercial databases? Yes No Don't know

How has your use of the traditional media changed since you started using the Internet?

	usage has increased	no change	usage has decreased		don't know
Newspapers
Magazines
Radio
TV