Of Polls, Mountains: U.S. Journalists and Their Use of Election Surveys |
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Authors: | Patterson Thomas E |
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Institution: | THOMAS E. PATTERSON is the Bradlee Professor of Government and the Press at Harvard Universitys John F. Kennedy School of Government. |
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Abstract: | Polls are a prominent feature of U.S. election news coverage.Although polls are used to explain voter opinion, they are employedmostly to fuel horse-race coverage and to craft images consistentwith the candidates positions in the race. Moreover,U.S. journalists sometimes misinterpret polls by slighting thepossibility that changes in candidate preference are the resultof survey error rather than real change. On balance, U.S. journalistsdependence on polls adversely affects the quality of Americanelection coverage. |
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