NCPP Special Citation

Just wanted to pass on some very flattering news for MP.  The National Council of Public Polls (NCPP) today announced the winners of it’s "Excellence in Media Coverage of Polls Award," Susan Page and Jim Norman of USA Today and Ron Brownstein of of the Los Angeles Times.  The flattering news from the third paragraph of the NCPP press release: 

Mark Blumenthal, a pollster who operates the blog site mysterypollster.com, was given a special citation by NCPP for his achievements in using his website as a forum for discussion of many complex poll-related issues during and after the presidential campaign.  Blumenthal dealt with these poll concerns in a thorough and thoughtful manner that provided much needed illumination in a highly-charged election environment.  [Full release on the jump]

MP is deeply honored and sends his thanks to the review committee. 

Apologies to all for the lack of posting this week.  It’s been a busy one.  I’ll be back tomorrow. 

JOURNALISM AWARD ANNOUNCEMENT
NATIONAL COUNCIL ON PUBLIC POLLS
EXCELLENCE IN MEDIA COVERAGE OF POLLS AWARD

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Lee M.
Miringoff
President
National Council on Public Polls       
845.575.5050

Susan Page and Jim Norman of USA Today and Ronald Brownstein of the Los
Angeles Times have been selected co-winners of the 2005 National Council on
Public Polls (NCPP) "Excellence in Media Coverage of Polls" Award.  The award is
given annually to a professional journalist who best exemplifies accuracy and
insight in reporting polls in the media.

The entry by Susan Page and Jim Norman consisted of five stories that
reflected the use of polls to explain American politics during the 2004
presidential election year.  The articles examined issues of importance to
voters and divisions in the electorate that defined the contest.  Often ahead of
the curve, their work highlighted the role of religion in the election and the
importance of commander in chief credentials in shaping voters’ reactions to the
campaign and candidates.

The entry
by Ronald Brownstein consisted of eight articles that explored the depths of
public opinion during the presidential election with special attention to using
polls to understand electoral dynamics.  His articles also dealt with how polls
explained voters’ assessments of the policy stances and personal qualities of
the candidates.

NCPP President Lee
Miringoff noted, "There were many excellent entries, but the work of these award
winners caught the attention of the reviewers as being especially insightful in
articulating how public polls can be reported in useful ways by journalists.  We
are very pleased to give them our recognition for a job well done."

Mark Blumenthal, a pollster who operates
the blog site mysterypollster.com, was given a special citation by NCPP for his
achievements in using his website as a forum for discussion of many complex
poll-related issues during and after the presidential campaign.  Blumenthal
dealt with these poll concerns in a thorough and thoughtful manner that provided
much needed illumination in a highly-charged election environment.

The review committee of the National
Council on Public Polls included Kathleen Frankovic (CBS News), Lee Miringoff
(Marist College Institute for Public Opinion), Frank Newport (The Gallup Poll),
Harry O’Neill (NOP World), Susan Pinkus (Los Angeles Times), and Humphrey Taylor
(Harris Interactive).  The Board of Trustees of the National Council on Public
Polls ratified the committee’s recommendation at its annual meeting in New York
City on May 23rd, 2005.  Because of their connection to the poll reports, Frank
Newport did not vote on the USA Today entry.  Susan Pinkus did not vote on the
work of the Los Angeles Times.