Debut column from Simon Dumenco, the new AdAge “Media Guy.”

From The Associated Press:

Despite growing doubts about the news media’s patriotism, most people still have a positive view of news outlets, according to a new poll.

While the public views much of the news media favorably, they are less inclined to consider those sources of news believable, according to the survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press.

Seven in 10 people said they have a favorable view of their local newspaper, and almost as many say that about local TV news, cable news networks and network broadcast news.

News organizations in general have seen a drop in the percentage of people who find them believable. Almost three-quarters said they think the news media tend to favor one side in their coverage – up from half who felt that way in the mid-1980s.

But a solid majority of those polled, six in 10, said they feel the news media’s criticism of leaders plays an important role in preventing those leaders from doing the wrong thing.

While people are critical of the press, “there is an enduring support for what the press does,” said Tom Rosenstiel, director of the Project for Excellence in Journalism, which co-sponsored the poll.

People were evenly divided on whether the news media “stands up for America” or is “too critical of America.” Republicans were more likely to view the media as critical of America.

The source of news is changing for many – with the use of online news highest among younger adults. Television remained the dominant source of news for all people, the poll found.

Newspapers were the primary source of news for at least half of people 50 and over.

The poll of 1,484 adults was taken June 8-12 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

I guess you’ve got to admire Big Tobacco for trying to do more to get smokers to quit. Philip Morris is now promoting a program called QuitAssist (see the news release). States the release:

“Taking steps to help smokers who have decided to quit is one of the ways we are working to reduce the harm associated with our products,” said Howard A. Willard, Philip Morris USA executive vice president, corporate responsibility. “As a manufacturer of a product that is addictive and causes serious diseases, like cancer and heart disease, we believe we have a role to play in communicating to smokers about the serious health effects of our products and resources that can help smokers quit.”

Yes, I suppose this program could help. Or maybe, if the anti-smoking cause were really important to Philip Morris, it could shut down operations altogether?

I don’t blame Philip Morris. Corporations, including tobacco companies, are in business to sell product and make money. As long as they have the legal right to do that, that’s what they should do. They won’t make money if everyone QUITS –so QuitAssist is clearly not in their interests, is it? BUT, if they seem insensitive to the health problems, they look like louts, which could cause more lawsuits, legislation, and the like.

It’s a fascinating story, this tobacco war in the United States — a war that’s been going on for more than 100 years now, if you can believe that.

Because of the central role that public relations has played in this war, on both sides, I highly recommend Richard Kluger’s Ashes to Ashes for the comprehensive narrative on this truly American saga.

Yes, it’s a little rudimentary, but it’s a start. Check out Media Dallas; it’s an attempt to pull together articles of particular interest to the PR and media communities in Dallas/Fort Worth.

I would be delighted if I could attract a couple of volunteers to help the Idea Grove keep this updated.

Communications students are invited. We’ll give you full credit — not academic credit, but at least a link to your blog or Web site. We believe there’s a need for this kind of resource in Dallas.

OK, we know that blogs are replacing press releases. Are they also replacing focus groups?

From AdWeek: “In promoting a new calling plan this spring, U.S. Cellular wanted to reach college-age consumers and speak to them on their own terms. While normally that might mean convening focus groups, commissioning surveys and poring over market-research reports, the Chicago company’s youth-focused ad agency, G Whiz, decided instead to listen to what their potential customers were saying on their blogs.”