Journos rank low on NZ trust scale

Journalists score ahead of real estate agents but behind tow-truck drivers in a national survey of most-trusted occupations. The New Zealand edition of Reader's Digest released the results of its annual survey of the trustworthiness of people, professions and brands.

Emergency personnel and health-care workers led the list of most trusted occupations, with firefighters coming in No. 1 and ambulance officers No. 2. Financial planners and corporate CEOs have dropped in public esteem, coming in at 32 and 33, respectively. But both careers were ahead of journalists (35). Politicians and telemarketers were at the bottom of the 40-place list.

Among individuals, Cpl. Willie Apiata, a soldier awarded the Victoria Cross for heroism in Afghanistan, was a the top, followed by Kevin Milne, host of a TV consumer show, Fair Go. Sir Peter Snell, a New Zealand Olympic hero and holder of a Ph.D. from of Washington State University, was No. 3. Snell lives in Dallas and was recently diagnosed with heart disease. Film director Peter Jackson tied for 6th. To no one's suprprise, politicians held nine of the 10 bottom slots on the trustworthiness index.