By Kim Yon-se
Staff Reporter
More than 20 percent of journalists covering Cheong Wa Dae said the presidential candidate they will vote for would not be the same as whom their companies support, according to The Korea Times survey.
Thirteen or 23.6 percent of 55 respondents said their favorite candidates are different from those their companies support, while seven respondents or 12.7 percent said the favorites coincide.
``I'm going to vote for Lee Myung-bak (the nominee of the main opposition Grand National Party). But our company executives prefer Chung Dong-young (the candidate of the United New Democratic Party),'' a respondent said, asking not to be identified.
Thirty-two or 58.2 percent said they did not know whom their companies support.
``Except for several newspapers or broadcasters, it could be hard for reporters to catch the consensus of their companies,'' a respondent said. But he assumed that many reporters might have experienced ideological conflict with their seniors.
Another respondent said his company is trying to take a neutral position in carrying electoral articles and editorials regarding campaigns.
Two respondents said their companies do not support a specific candidate and one declined to give an answer.
Asked if they ``would vote for a candidate with a high approval rating or would exercise the voting right according to conviction,'' 47 respondents, or 85.5 percent, were found to belong to the latter.
The cited companies include Hankook Ilbo, Seoul Shinmun, Kyunghyang Shinmun, Chosun Ilbo, Dong-A Ilbo, Seoul Economic Daily, Asia Economy, e-Daily, Yonhap News, Yeongnam Ilbo, KBS, SBS, YTN and MBN.
kys@koreatimes.co.kr
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