The Business: Media Index, which looks at the relationship between Iowa's 500 largest businesses and more than 200 members of Iowa's daily media, found that while relationships
between media and businesses have remained sound, there has been a significant drop in media trust of businesses in the past two years. The survey, conducted by West Des Moines-
based PR firm Hanser & Associates, found that:
- 83% of Iowa journalists trust the accuracy of financial and operational information provided by businesses even though 66% said they had been misled or lied to by business
leaders, a 23% increase from 2001. - 55% of business executives trust the media, though only a fourth believe media adequately scrutinize the financial and operational information provided by Iowa
businesses.