AMERICANS ARE DOWN ON CORPORATE AMERICA

Nearly 70 percent of Americans say they do not trust Corporate America, according to a survey conducted for Interpublic's Golin/Harris International unit.


Sixty-nine percent of respondents to the "Trust Survey" say "recent economic events have created a crisis of confidence and trust in the way we do business in America," and as a result, they're "going to hold business to a higher standard in their behavior and communications."


"When more than two-thirds of Americans express this level of skepticism and cynicism, American business has a serious problem that goes beyond the `Enron factor,'" said Richard Jernstedt, CEO, G/HI.


"Obviously, the current wave of scandals has a direct impact on specific industries, but when you look at trust levels across the entire spectrum of American business, almost every category is affected. The malaise of trust is becoming epidemic, and no business can escape by saying `It's not my problem,'" said Jernstedt.