Surveying around 1000 people across the UK, the study found that internet news is seen mainly as a backup to traditional news - with the surprising result that just 0.2 per cent of those surveyed named the internet as the best news source.
Professor Justin Lewis, part of the research team at Cardiff University, told dotJournalism that internet news is still plagued by the stigma of inaccuracy. The immediacy of television - and the passive, easy nature of 'tuning in' - is also likely to be a factor.
"I suspect that the internet is used as a secondary source of information," he said.
"People are more likely to use it to check facts or to find more background. But most users are less committed to detail and as war coverage lends itself to constant updates, background is less of a priority.
"Broadcast is thought to be better than print because it provides an immediacy of analysis."
Professor Lewis acknowledged that some UK news sites had seen much higher traffic from the US during the conflict.
"We know that there is a substantial segment of left-of-centre public opinion that is not represented in the mainstream American media," he said.
"Those that do use the internet will go to news sites associated with a news provider they trust, such as The Guardian and The BBC."
The BBC fared well in the survey, with 47 per cent of recipients naming the BBC as 'the media outlet that gave the best, most informed coverage'. The BBC was equally popular with supporters and opponents of the conflict.
Although some way behind the BBC, 12.5 per cent of those surveyed named Sky Television as their preferred news source. Sky viewers were also found to be three times more likely to support the war.
An overwhelming proportion of those surveyed - 92 per cent - felt that TV coverage of the war should be impartial, including those who supported the war. Eighty-eight per cent also stated that press coverage should be objective, despite what the report referred to as 'the clear partisanship of most newspapers'.
Previous studies by the department included a survey on science reporting, which investigated coverage of issues such as the combined MMR vaccine, climate change and genetic research.
A much higher proportion of people looking for science news named the internet as a key news source, supporting the view that the web more of a research tool for those seeking analysis and detail.
The next long-term research project for the University will focus on issues of citizenship and is likely to explore the impact of iCan, the new BBC web site devoted to encouraging political awareness.
See also:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/2268778.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/2946188.stm
http://www.journalism.co.uk/news/story637.html
http://www.journalism.co.uk/news/story615.html
http:// www.cardiff.ac.uk
http://www.newseum.org
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