98. Geoffrey Edelsten, entrepreneur
99. Schapelle Corby, convicted drug trafficker
100. Mercedes Corby, sister of Schapelle Corby
Miranda Ward
Journalists less trusted than lawyers, taxi drivers and baggage handlers
Journalists have once again struggled to convince the public to trust them in Readers Digest’s annual survey of most trusted professions coming in at number 42 on the list, beaten by lawyers, taxi drivers and airport baggage handlers.However, journalists did fare slightly better than radio talkback hosts who came in at number 43, with CEOs providing the buffer between the two professions. Journos and talkback hosts are more trustworthy than real estate agents, call centre staff, sex workers, insurance salespeople, politicians and door-to-door salespeople who made up last six places on the Readers Digest list.
When compared to last year’s efforts, journalists and talkback radio hosts have improved with both moving up a place on the ladder from their 43rd and 44th positions on the 2013 list.
Paramedics were seen as the must trustworthy.
The list is quite similar with Roy Morgan’s Image of Professions Survey for 2014 which was released in April this year which ranked 30 professions on how they are perceived by the public. TV reporters came in at 19, followed by newspaper journalists at 20. Talk-back radio announcers came in at 24 with advertising people at 29th only beating car salesmen.
Readers Digest also compiles a list of the most trusted people in 2014, with the usual health experts rounding out the top three.
It is not until the 17th ranking that a media person pops up, with Laurie Oakes, political reporter taking that position. Kerry O’Brien, host of Four Corners on the ABC, was the 26th most trusted with The Project’s Carrie Bickmore in 32nd position.
Curtis Stone, chef and Coles brand ambassador, came in at 38th while former The Project host Charlie Pickering was 41st on the list.
The Hoopla’s Wendy Harmer beat Tracy Grimshaw out for the 47th spot, with Grimshaw taking the 48th position followed up by journalist Mike Willesee.
Sunrise David Koch just missed out on the top 50, settling for the 51st spot while Leo Burnett Sydney CEO and TV personality Todd Sampson the 57th most trusted personality, according to the Readers Digest.
Leigh Sales, host of 7.30 on the ABC, ranked 60 on the list, with Weekend Sunrise host Andrew O’Keefe not far behind on the list at 62.
Rounding out the list at 99 was convicted drug trafficker Schapelle Corby with her sister Mercedes taking out the 100th spot.
In the Readers Digest surveys a total of 1206 people were asked to rank the people and jobs from most to least trusted.
Most trusted professions:
1. Paramedics
2. Firefighters
3. Rescue volunteers
4. Nurses
5. Doctors
5. Pilots
7. Pharmacists
8. Air traffic controllers
8. Farmers
8. Veterinarians
11. Police
12. Armed forces personnel
12. Scientists
14. Teachers
14. Dentists
16. Childcare workers
17. Bus/train/tram drivers
18. Flight attendants
19. Locksmiths
20. Hairdressers
21. Postal workers
22. Computer technicians
22. Waiters
22. Plumbers
25. Accountants
25. Cleaners
27. Security guards
27. Builders
27. Mechanics
30. Shop assistants
30. Truck drivers
32. Professional sportspeople
33. Alternative health practitioners
34. Bankers
35. Financial planners
36. Tow-truck drivers
36. Charity collectors
36. Lawyers
36. Clergy (all religions)
40. Airport baggage handlers
41. Taxi drivers
42. Journalists
43. CEOs
43. Radio talkback hosts
45. Real estate agents
45. Call centre staff
47. Sex workers
47. Insurance salespeople
49. Politicians
50. Door-to-door salespeople
Most trusted in 2014:
1. Charlie Teo, neurosurgeon
2. Fiona Wood, burns specialist
3. Ian Frazer, immunologist
4. Chris Riley, founder of Youth Off The Streets
5. Hugh Jackman, actor
6. Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark
7. Ian Kiernan, Clean Up Australia founder
8. Catherine Hamlin, obstetrician
9. Karl Kruszelnicki, science journalist
10. Dick Smith, entrepreneur
11. Harry Cooper, TV vet
12. Peter Cosgrove, Governor-General
13. Geoffrey Rush, actor
14. Chris Brown, TV vet
14. Anh Do, author, actor and comedian
16. Cate Blanchett, actor
17. Laurie Oakes, political journalist
18. Libby Trickett, swimmer
19. Tim Costello, CEO World Vision Australia
19. Adam Hills, comedian, TV host
21. Darren Lehmann, Australian cricket team coach
22. Deborra-Lee Furness, actor
23. Lieutenant General David Morrison, chief of the Australian Army
24. Jessica Mauboy, singer
25. Jacki Weaver, actor
26. Kerry O’Brien, journalist
27. Adam Scott, golfer
28. David Hurley, Chief of the Defence Force
29. Tina Arena, singer
30. Hamish Blake, comedian
31. Donna Hay, TV cook and food publisher
32. Carrie Bickmore, TV host
33. Nicole Kidman, actor
34. Kylie Minogue, singer
35. Guy Sebastian, singer
35. Keith Urban, singer
37. Michael Clarke, cricketer
38. Curtis Stone, chef
39. Amanda Keller, comedian
40. Adam Goodes, AFL player, Australian of the Year 2014
41. Mitchell Johnson, cricketer
41. Charlie Pickering, TV host, comedian
41. Tim Cahill, soccer player
44. Peter FitzSimons, author, columnist
44. Tony Negus, Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police
46. Tim Winton, writer, environmentalist
47. Wendy Harmer, comedian and writer
48. Tracey Grimshaw, TV host
49. Mike Willesee, journalist
50. Russell Crowe, actor
51. David Koch, TV host
52. Derryn Hinch, media personality
53. Glenn Stevens, Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia
54. Ange Postecoglou, Socceroos coach
55. Richard Roxburgh, actor
56. Shane Watson, cricketer
57. Todd Sampson, advertising personality
58. Josh Thomas, comedian
59. Tim Flannery, environmentalist
60. Leigh Sales, journalist, TV host
61. Ian Thorpe, swimmer
62. Gerry Harvey, businessman
62. Andrew O’Keefe, TV host
62. Michelle Bridges, personal trainer
65. John Symond, founder Aussie Home Loans
66. Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest, businessman
67. Miranda Kerr, model
68. Nick Xenophon, independent Senator
69. Malcolm Turnbull, Minister for Communications
70. Kerry Stokes, businessman
71. Frank Lowy, businessman
72. Eddie McGuire, TV personality
73. Bob Brown, environmentalist
74. John Singleton, entrepreneur
74. Tanya Plibersek, Deputy Leader of the Opposition
76. Kevin Rudd, former Prime Minister
77. Joe Hockey, federal Treasurer
78. Gai Waterhouse, racehorse trainer
79. Tony Abbott, Prime Minister
80. Julie Bishop, Foreign Affairs Minister
81. Bill Shorten, Leader of the Opposition
81. Barnaby Joyce, Agriculture Minister
83. James Hird, former AFL coach
83. Scott Morrison, Immigration Minister
85. James Packer, businessman
86. Bob Katter, federal politician
87. Christine Milne, politician, leader of the Australian Greens
88. Sarah Hanson-Young, Greens politician
89. Shane Warne, former cricketer
90. Clive Palmer, businessman, MP
90. Rolf Harris, entertainer
92. Bernard Tomic, tennis player
93. Gina Rinehart, businesswoman, mining
94. George Pell, member of Vatican executive
95. Alan Joyce, CEO of Qantas
96. Kyle Sandilands, radio personality
97. Tom Waterhouse, bookmaker
Miranda Ward worked for Mumbrella from 2013 to 2017, eventually becoming deputy editor. Miranda joined Mumbrella in September 2013 from Sky News.
Linkedin
Can we trust the writer of this article that this information is accurate?
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So just how much should we trust a trust survey from one of the shonkiest companies going around?
Personally, I’m inclined to discard anything that comes bearing the Reader’s Digest brand.
They are after all the company that bombards me with constant (but unsubscribe-able) sweepstake emails and DM spam, not to mention the sender of a barrage of threatening letters of demand for renewal of a gifted magazine subscription!
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Tracey Grimshaw!?!
Shouldn’t hosting that repulsive stain on Australian television A CURRENT AFFAIR disqualify you from being referred to as a Journalist?
Next thing you’ll tell me Andrew Bolt is a journalist, instead of just another Murdoch/Abbot mouthpiece.
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You mean, can we trust the Readers Digest PR team who gathered the info to blatently publicise its magazine to increase sales?
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Car salesman?
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Sex Workers – not trusted to do WHAT ?????????????
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Hmm – Rolf Harris, Kevin Rudd, Kyle Sandilands, Tim Flannery . . . methinks the data is somewhat tainted.
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Could this result come from the fact that most journalists now work for the corporate presstitute media? Ruperts men, for example. Personally, I wouldn’t trust Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest or Gina Rinehart as far as I could spit on them!
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I’m with you Ross Tester. If Tony Abbott, Scott Morrison and Gina Rinehart made the Top 100 then it’s dodgy
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