Sue Hartigan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: WASHINGTON, April 30 (UPI) _ A new UPI poll shows that most computer users in the United States see the Internet and Web surpassing all other media in the next five years as their most significant source of news and information. In a national survey of computer users by the Luntz Research Companies for UPI, 91 percent of the 600 adults polled say constantly updated news and current information is important to them and 80 percent predict they'll go online to get it by 2003. It is estimated personal computers are in 95 million households worldwide, and roughly half are online as well. Luntz pollster Andrew Smith says the survey results show the increasing importance of the Internet and Web as news media to the computer-savvy. ``It's tremendously significant and an enormous flip from how people perceived news on the Net only two years ago,'' he says. Sixty-seven percent of those surveyed currently read a daily newspaper each day and 51 percent said they also would read an online, personalized newspaper if given the chance. But 70 percent say they are unwilling to pay extra for customized news. If they could design a ``virtual newspaper'' themselves, 21 percent would want local news, 15 percent national news and politics, 10 percent sports and the rest would receive niche information such as business, entertainment or other news. Those surveyed were divided on the accuracy of editorial content on the Internet compared to other media sources. Forty-three percent said the Intenet was more accurate, while 35 percent said other media were more accurate than the Internet. Regarding cyber-accuracy, Smith says Americans still see the Internet as a volatile environment. ``Legitimate news organizations feeding the Internet are going to be challenged to overcome that,'' he says. Newspaper advertising was viewed as the most credible (39 percent), followed by television (29 percent) and Internet (12 percent). The poll shows 68 percent think newspapers will still play a significant role in delivering news in five years. American Newspaper Editors Society President Edward Seaton said: ``These numbers are encouraging and consistent with our view of what's going to happen with newspapers. Sixty-eight percent is very close to what you see now in terms of newspaper readership in the general population.'' Seaton, Editor-in-Chief of the Manhattan Mercury in Manhattan, Kan., says the Internet is different from the ink-and-paper medium because it focuses on niche information. ``I'm an international news junkie and I go on the Net every day to see what's happening in Latin America,'' he says. Electronic Frontier Foundation Chairman Lori Fena points out that electronic mail surpassed the volume of regular mail 10 years ago due to its low cost and ease-of-use. Still, she will not write newspapers' epitaph, suggesting there always will be room for the printed page. Fena says: ``The question is where the page will be printed _ on the printing press or the desktop printer.'' The Luntz poll data suggests personal computers are a ``gateway technology'' that can lead users to embrace other new digital communications tools. Seventy-six percent of respondents say they use cell phones or will by the year 2000. They also use laptop computers (32 percent) and palm- pilot computer organizers (18 percent). Says EFF's Fena: ``Once people invest in the electronic world, there are a number of gizmos that become must-have for them to communicate with other people.'' The UPI poll of computer users produced these other findings: _Two in three (66 percent) consider the computer the most significant technological invention of the 20th Century. _Opinion was split (44 percent to 45 percent) on who has the greater impact on their day-to-day lives, President Bill Clinton or Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates. _Seventy-four percent say they have a positive opinion of Gates. _Research and information are viewed as the most important benefits of the new technology (66 percent), followed by immediately available news and information (51 percent), shopping and other personal activities (41 percent) and entertainment (30 percent). _A majority (48 percent) have a positive opinion of mega Internet service provider America Online, compared to those who feel otherwise (33 percent). _Most computer users (82 percent) use online services such as AOL. -- Two rules in life: 1. Don't tell people everything you know. 2. Subscribe/Unsubscribe, email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the body of the message enter: subscribe/unsubscribe law-issues
