Some 84.8% of survey respondents believe the Government’s media law changes will reduce the diversity of media in Australia. And 82.6% believe that the changes will negatively affect reporting integrity.

On specific elements of Communications Minister Senator Helen Coonan’s proposals, the survey shows that 87.2% of journalists disagree with the proposals to abolish the cross media ownership restrictions, 74.3% disagree with the removal of foreign ownership restrictions on TV stations, and 69.8% believe that the current limit of three commercial free-to-air television stations in capital cities should be lifted to allow the entry of new players.

The survey also reveals that the attack on media diversity will threaten the quality of journalism practiced in Australia. Even before the changes, respondents are warning that their reporting of the news is influenced by the political or commercial agendas of their employers. Some 48.4% of respondents say they have felt obliged to take into account the commercial position of their employer, with 37.7% of respondents saying they have even been instructed to toe the commercial line.

In terms of politics, 31.6% of respondents say they feel obliged to take into account their employer’s political position, and 16.3% of respondents saying they’ve been instructed to do so.

The survey also found that 71.4% of journalists believe media owners already have too much influence in determining the political agenda and 62.3% said media companies have too much influence in determining how Australian electors vote.

More than half the respondents (52.9%) feel unable to be critical of their media employer.

Alliance federal secretary Christopher Warren says: "The survey reveals that the people who work in the media know the truth about the Government's proposed media changes. The changes will undermine diversity, affect the integrity of journalism in Australia and further empower media owners who already have an unwelcome influence on their employees to report the news in a way that suits the owners' political or commercial agendas."

"The health of Australia democracy is at stake and these media law changes will clearly result in fewer voices and fewer choices for the Australian people," Warren said.

The online survey of media section members of the Alliance drew 374 respondents - 58.7% of respondents have 10 years or more experience in the media industry.

Almost three quarters of respondents said they worked in print media, 9.1% in television and 10.7% in radio.