Comments on: A third of bloggers consider themselves journalists http://www.hawkwings.net/2006/07/25/a-third-of-bloggers-consider-themselves-journalists/ Tips and add-ons to make Apple Mail / Mail.app even better Fri, 29 Aug 2008 18:48:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Tim http://www.hawkwings.net/2006/07/25/a-third-of-bloggers-consider-themselves-journalists/#comment-10074 Tim Mon, 24 Jul 2006 21:09:12 +0000 http://www.hawkwings.net/2006/07/25/a-third-of-bloggers-consider-themselves-journalists/#comment-10074 Nick, that's partly my point, of course. The survey seems very light-weight to me both in terms of research design and in sample size. A shame really. Nick, that’s partly my point, of course. The survey seems very light-weight to me both in terms of research design and in sample size. A shame really.

]]> By: Nick http://www.hawkwings.net/2006/07/25/a-third-of-bloggers-consider-themselves-journalists/#comment-10073 Nick Mon, 24 Jul 2006 20:57:50 +0000 http://www.hawkwings.net/2006/07/25/a-third-of-bloggers-consider-themselves-journalists/#comment-10073 I downloaded the 33-page report and went through it quickly. I didn't see how they extracted their statement "34% of bloggers self-define as journalists." Was it a direct question or was it computed from the barrage of related questions about checking facts, etc.? If the survey simply asked "do you consider yourself a journalist" it leaves the definition of "journalist" open to the respondents' interpretation. That would qualify as a flaw in the survey's methodology. I took a semester of "opinion poll methodology" when I was in college, so I am always skeptical over polls and surveys. I downloaded the 33-page report and went through it quickly. I didn’t see how they extracted their statement “34% of bloggers self-define as journalists.” Was it a direct question or was it computed from the barrage of related questions about checking facts, etc.? If the survey simply asked “do you consider yourself a journalist” it leaves the definition of “journalist” open to the respondents’ interpretation. That would qualify as a flaw in the survey’s methodology.

I took a semester of “opinion poll methodology” when I was in college, so I am always skeptical over polls and surveys.

]]> By: Peter http://www.hawkwings.net/2006/07/25/a-third-of-bloggers-consider-themselves-journalists/#comment-10063 Peter Mon, 24 Jul 2006 17:45:26 +0000 http://www.hawkwings.net/2006/07/25/a-third-of-bloggers-consider-themselves-journalists/#comment-10063 I'm reminded of the statistic that more than 50% of drivers in America consider themselves "above average" drivers. "Yeah, I think I'm a journalist" doesn't mean diddly. I’m reminded of the statistic that more than 50% of drivers in America consider themselves “above average” drivers.

“Yeah, I think I’m a journalist” doesn’t mean diddly.

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