What economists think about the economy is one thing but how financial journalists see things is quite another

By Dian Vujovich

Anyone who regularly reads about what’s happening in the markets and on Wall Street knows only too well financial journalists write the words they are reading. More than wordsmiths these writers are also individuals with opinions of their own.

If you’ve ever wondered what financial journalists really think about the economy and the news that they report you’re not alone. Now, thanks to the results a survey by Grokana, a prominent online resource for sharing info and data to and about journalists—financial or otherwise— you can find out.

First, a word about that name. Gorkana is a Hindi word that when broken down basically winds up meaning “mind food” as “gor” means “mind” and “kana” means “food” according to site info at gorkana.com/us.

What follows are some of the results of The 20121 Gorkana Survey of Financial Journalists in which 349 financial journalists responded to a series of questions relating to the industry they cover.

-When it comes to the economy and the financial services sector, 46 percent of the financial journalists in the survey had a neutral view of the economic outlook; nearly 36 percent had a negative outlook; and fewer than 18 percent a positive outlook on the domestic economy over the next year.

-As for their view about the financial services industry, 44 percent had a negative view and 40 percent a neutral view.

-What outlets do they like? Those surveyed found The Wall Street Journal to be the most influential financial news outlet in the U.S. followed by financial news coverage in Bloomberg News, The New York Times, Reuters and the Financial Times.

-Who do the financial journalists surveyed consider the most influential financial journalists? The top five include (in order of their influence): Andrew Ross Sorkin, New York Times; Gretchen Morgenson, New York Times; Michael Lewis, Vanity Fair and author; Paul Krugman, New York Times; and Jim Cramer, CNBC and The Street.

Your thoughts?