Public rating of the press

In a recent survey for the Times Mirror Company, the Gallup Organization found that: More than a third of strong conservatives now have an unfavorable opinion of network television news, double the proportion reported last July.

Those who see the press as having a political point of view - liberal or conservative - have increased from 60 percent in 1985 to 80 percent.

Only 1 in 5 following the Iran story rates the coverage as excellent; 57 percent rated the coverage of the Challenger disaster excellent.

Forty percent say they feel there has been too much coverage of the story.

Still, 56 percent of the public attribute professional - rather than political - motives for the news media's aggressive coverage. Thirty-five percent say the press is more interested in attacking Ronald Reagan.