resize text:

Online Journalism News

Reuters rolls out US election strategy

Posted: 15/01/04 By: Jemima Kiss
email this story | post a comment

International news agency Reuters.com has partnered with Zogby International, the US polling and market research firm, to monitor trends in public opinion leading up to the US presidential election.

Zogby conducts research by telephone in key campaign areas, compiling data from around 500 responses each day. Polling began on 8 January in the state of Iowa as the Democratic Party votes for its preferred presidential nominee.

"Our journalists are not solely reliant on this information - it's just one element of a much larger operation," said Susan Allsopp, spokesperson for Reuters.

"We have teams of reporters all around the country - including very experienced journalists in the White House press pool - but these polls are an interesting way of getting public opinion."

A team of 50 Reuters journalists will track the election up to the final result, using Zogby's poll statistics to help produce analysis and comment on the campaign. Poll data will also be used to produce graphical information for Reuters.com, the Reuters news site.

"In addition to the Reuters wire service, Reuters.com is particularly useful for consumer audiences," said Ms Allsopp.

"The internet is an incredibly powerful tool in disseminating this information."

John Zogby was credited with being the first to recognise the closing gap between George W Bush and Al Gore during the 2000 presidential election campaign.

See also:
http://www.reuters.com
http://www.zogby.com