Canadian journalists misled public by portraying niqab poll as “definitive,” data expert says
"We do a grave disservice to the Muslim community and to all Canadians if we rush to judgment that our country is less tolerant of religious diversity than in fact may be the case"
In March 2015 the Privy Council Office, which reports to the prime minister, commissioned a survey conducted by Leger Marketing that included a question asking respondents whether they agree with a ban on niqabs in citizenship ceremonies. The result of that survey, which was released on September 24 and found that 82 percent of respondents […]
Why aren’t political reporters asking the right questions about polls?
Even after British Columbia’s 2013 election debacle, journalists still miss the mark on public opinion surveys
By Ronan O’Beirne Welcome to the poll on polls. To begin, please press 1 “What is a poll?” David Akin asks in the makeup room at the Sun News Network studio in downtown Toronto. He doesn’t need to think about his answer. “It is a snapshot backward in time.” This photo of public opinion is a […]
Spring 2014: Wrong Numbers
Ronan O'Beirne investigates the role and purpose of poll analysis in Canadian journalism. His story will be available in the Spring 2014 issue of the Ryerson Review of Journalism.
By Ronan O’Beirne Ronan O’Beirne investigates the role and purpose of poll analysis in Canadian journalism. His story will be available in the Spring 2014 issue of the Ryerson Review of Journalism.
