CNN / Reuters is reporting on the latest poll on public confidence for members of various professions -

NEW YORK (Reuters) -- Nurses get top marks when it comes to honesty and ethics, and car salesmen are the least trusted people, according to Gallup's annual U.S. survey of professions released Tuesday.

And how does one of my favorite punching bags - the Professional Media - fair?

Journalists did not fare much better in public approval.

TV reporters (23 percent) and newspaper reporters (21) ranked below auto mechanics (26) and nursing home operators (24) on the list.

Perhaps it's cuz of situations like this LAT story where our intrepid reporters appear FAR more concerned about PsyOps manipulation by American Forces than anything they've ever noted about terrorists -

The use of misleading information as a military tool sparks debate in the Pentagon. Critics say the practice puts credibility at stake.

WASHINGTON ­ On the evening of Oct. 14, a young Marine spokesman near Fallouja appeared on CNN and made a dramatic announcement.

"Troops crossed the line of departure," 1st Lt. Lyle Gilbert declared, using a common military expression signaling the start of a major campaign. "It's going to be a long night." CNN, which had been alerted to expect a major news development, reported that the long-awaited offensive to retake the Iraqi city of Fallouja had begun.

In fact, the Fallouja offensive would not kick off for another three weeks. Gilbert's carefully worded announcement was an elaborate psychological operation ­ or "psy-op" ­ intended to dupe insurgents in Fallouja and allow U.S. commanders to see how guerrillas would react if they believed U.S. troops were entering the city, according to several Pentagon officials.

Now it's one thing to question this practice (there are many valid concerns) BUT it really chaps my hide that the question only pops up when AMERICANS DO IT.  Do these guys have even the slightest iota that every terrorist car bomb, beheading, and kidnap video is also a naked manipulation of the press?   It's one thing to be anti-war in your OpEd pages but to allow it to creep into News/Analysis like this is sad.   The silver lining is that much of the public appears to recognize this as well.