CNN poll: media negligence
Hi there:
Here are a list of items that I noticed that ranged from odd to pure media negligence in the CNN poll. Please add your comments - perhaps someone should send this list to CNN too. Besides, if I see this, then frankly, it is obvious:
1. "Who do you think is the best dresser?"
This is not relevant to a candidates character nor opinions and should not be part of this poll. Why would CNN ask this? Are you trying to trivialize the polls - make it seem more pop-culture than a real poll? Or, are you going to use this to determine who is a spammer and who is not? (i.e., if you vote all Ron Paul, and Ron Paul best dressed, then it is a spammer).
Grade: D (obvious CNN!)
2. "Political Comments?"
This is a like a polster asking over the telephone: "Who will you vote for president, by the way, our political analysts think that Candidate A, B and C are the best fit for America at this stage - so, who are you voting for again?"
Grade: F (media negligence in biasing polls)
3. "Only pick one"
Anyone else notice how one of the political commentators said "all of the above" for best dressed. Duh! Of course, they all look the same. CNN should give us the option to vote "all of the above", "abstain" and especially "none of the above"!
Grade: C (think before you write a poll)
4. "Results - only view the top one"
Although the option exists to see further results, upon entering ones results we only see the top result. This is unfair for candidates who came second, third etc. One extra click = considerably less attention.
Grade: C- (*sigh*)
5. "A checkmark if I voted for the Top Candidate!?!?"
You've got to be joking me!
The whole thing is being set up like "can you vote for the person you think everyone else is going to vote for?" Gawd!
Again, with our telephone poll comparison, this would be like:
Pollster: "Who will you vote for in the presidential election?"
Receiver: "Candidate A"
Pollster: "Correct! You voted the candidate that everyone else is voting too!"
Receiver: "Huh? Is this a real poll?"
Of course, one step above the "checkmark" would be having a small "X" if you got the top candidate wrong....
Pollster: "Who will you vote for in the presidential election?"
Receiver: "Candidate B"
Pollster: "Oh.... okay, we'll record that... Just to let you know, you aren't voting for the top candidate so far - The top Candidate is Candidate A... but anyway, on to the next question..."
Receiver: "WTF? I thought you said you guys were CNN, are you sure your not supporting Candidate A?"
Pollster: "Oh no... these polls are very scientific... uhh... thanks for answering all the questions... bye now *click*"
Grade: F (You do not grade, consciously or subconsciously someone's poll decision)
6. Candidate Pictures/Photos
Before you go look at the election poll again, think about who are the "mainstream" candidates and who are the non-mainstream ones... Now, go look at the pictures CNN chooses to use to represent these people. Anyone notice the inconsistency - some look more stressed / angry than others... some look happy and "presidential". It's like someone is subconsciously trying to influence what I think about a candidate by their picture. I wonder if this holds true for the republican candidates???
Grade: C- (Hard to tell if this is intentional, but CNN should recognize that candidates reserve the same treatments all the way down to the quality and style of their photo - anything less starts to look like Soviet style propaganda)
I'm done for typing, anyone notice anything else?
