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Berkeley media activists set up new polling service
Retro Poll, a new organization planning to find out what Berkeley residents really think about things, is challenging the polling practices of the major media networks by doing some polling of its own.
While none of Retro Poll’s surveys are yet completed, the group is developing questions for such issues as the war against terrorism and United States military involvement overseas. They hope to reveal misinformation in current corporate media polls.
They want to examine public viewpoints, like 70 percent supporting Mr. Bush and ask, ‘What does that mean?’ “ said Kris Welch, a radio host for KPFA in Berkeley.
Others agreed that vagueness in polling is a major problem.
“The audience for good qualitative polling information could be quite broad, especially in the Bay Area and even in the corporate media, to varying degrees,” said Peter Phillips, a professor of sociology at Sonoma State University and a Retro Poll board member.
Retro Poll is made up of media activists and volunteers, including professors from universities across the country.
The group does not claim to be capable of pure objectivity, but it aims to rework poll questions, polling methodology and to interview a diverse socio-economic sample.
“In statistical analysis, the same questions need to be asked of republican, democrat, or green, in addition to people from all levels of income,” Phillips said.
Retro Poll organizer Marc Sapir was interviewed on Welch’s daily radio program and gave a sample of one of the polls. He showed a series of true and false questions designed to reveal how little the U.S. public knows about U.S. military action.
“I would love the public to be confronted with these questions, although I don’t know what they’ll say,” said Welch. “It’s what Gallop never asked.”
It costs $15,000 to run a poll, according to Retro Poll. With funding from private donations, grants, and fund-raising benefit events, Retro Poll hopes to meet its goal of performing 10 polls a year.
On July 30, Retro Poll will hold a benefit called, “Fighting for Clarity,” to raise funds for its first poll. The event will feature comedy, music, and commentary by media critics. Call 848-3826 for more information.
