Poll: New editor for The Journalist - the people's choice!

[John Thompson]

OK all the candidates have now had the chance to set out their stalls here and answer at least some of our and your questions. For a bit of a fun, we have decided to run an open poll in which anyone can vote, anonymously, NUJ member or not. The debate will continue right up to the official closing date of 6 November for the real election, but you can still vote one way now and change your mind later. NB you need to register on this board first before you can vote.

Strictly first past the post this poll (unlike the NUJ's real election) but it will be interesting to see how close we get to the actual results based on what will obviously be a much smaller number of voters. And candidates, we don't mind if you get all your supporters, friends, families etc to vote for you, this is just a piece of fun.

[Michael Cross]

Um I should confess to having voted for myself. This is to make up for the non-arrival of my ballot paper in the real poll.

[John Thompson]

Fair enough. Actually that does raise a good point - the real election is a postal ballot at a time of postal disruption and a possible strike. Will the NUJ/ERS consider making allowances for this fact? One has to wonder how many other members have not received their papers yet (I have).

[Michael Cross]

I understand one other candidate has yet to receive their papers. Talks are under way with the NUJ and Electoral Reform Services about a possible extension. At the moment I'm in favour of some extension, but obviously it's for ERS, not the  candidates, to decide.

[Donnacha DeLong]

Yup, it's all down to the Electoral Reform Services - thanks Thatcher.

[SteveUsher1]

Fun. I remember that. But I am fighting a losing battle against redundancies here at Express Newspapers and have to stay focused. I do believe that this poll is even less scientific than some of the phone-ins we feature on our pages as a money-spinner for the chairman. It is an up-the-pole poll. Sorry.

[John Thompson]

Sure Steve, it's not meant to be a serious or scientific poll in any way at all. I do appreciate that you are very busy and have bigger fish to fry at the moment and I'm sure all the candidates would join me in wishing you and your colleagues at Express Newspapers all the best of luck.

[Mark Watts]

Have seen the poll only this afternoon, have also voted for myself, and asked a few friends to do likewise. But I am totally with Steve on this one. I do hope that no voters will be influenced by such a meaningless poll. I see that at this stage Steve (who I know a bit from my time on the Sunday Express) has only 3.2% of the poll. That is clearly ridiculous.

[Michael Cross]

Quite so. Of course I'd like to claim that my commanding lead is The Voice of The People, but it probably has more to do with my putting out a Tweet at a time I knew that a lot of my friends were online. (Damn, given it away now.)

[Dewcattybatty]

It's a pretty dire magazine anyway, and the irony that it's produced by journalists for journalists is not lost on me.

[John Thompson]

Michael, you weren't the only candidate to attempt to mobilise their online supporters by messaging their Facebook supporters, Twitter followers etc...

[Michael Cross]

Interesting late surge for Mr Watts, but I'm guessing both he and I have supporters who are disproportionately likely to be Journalism.co.uk readers. My bet for Monday is that at least two candidates will get very much larger shares of members' votes than this poll suggests.