… The gun control debate illustrates what is known as the “issue-attention cycle.” This occurs when a dramatic event — in this case, the Newtown shooting — causes the media and public to become intensely interested in a policy issue for a brief time, before moving on to other problems. […] Read more »
Once Upon a Time, There Was a Person Who Said, ‘Once Upon a Time’
… Last summer, President Obama conceded that he had failed to “tell a story to the American people that gives them a sense of unity and purpose and optimism.” … The underlying and more ominous question is whether the story of our species — the greater human narrative — has […] Read more »
Washington Post Media launches independent polling group ‘Capital Insight’
Washington Post Media today announced the launch of “Capital Insight,” an independent polling operation that will offer polling and research services to external clients. Capital Insight will design, implement and analyze high-impact survey research for philanthropic foundations, commercial enterprises and others wishing to better understand public opinion, carry out leadership […] Read more »
Transcript of Nate Silver’s ‘Ask Me Anything’ on Reddit
Nate Silver of FiveThirtyEight took questions Tuesday on the popular social news site Reddit’s “Ask Me Anything” section. What follows is an edited transcript, with the questions and answers sorted into several subject areas. [cont.] New York Times Read more »
Freedom to Publish Opinion Polls Study Released
The World Association for Public Opinion Research (WAPOR) and the Public Opinion Programme at The University of Hong Kong (HKUPOP) have released the results of the fifth worldwide study on the Freedom to Publish Opinion Poll Results. … While more and more countries are conducting surveys in general and pre-election […] Read more »
The media will quickly forget about guns — unless Washington stops them
… In a post-election Gallup survey, fewer than one-half of one percent of Americans said that guns were the nation’s “most important problem.” One reason the issue lacks salience is that citizens tend to take their cues from the media. When news outlets devote significant attention to an issue – […] Read more »