A critique of internet polls as symbolic representation and pseudo-events

Michael L. Kent; Tyler R. Harrison; Maureen Taylor

doi:10.1080/10510970600845941

A critique of internet polls as symbolic representation and pseudo-events

Michael L. Kent, Tyler R. Harrison, Maureen Taylor

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

16 Scopus citations

Abstract

The Internet continues to grow as an information and entertainment medium. Internet growth has implications for the news industry. Twenty-four hour news networks such as CNN and MSNBC regularly encourage viewers of their television programs to visit their Web sites. While visiting news Web sites, visitors are invited to participate in opinion polls. Unfortunately, these online opinion polls are not scientific and have little real news value. In spite of these limitations, news Web sites' Internet polls are often treated as serious topics in broadcast news discussions. This article examines media organizations' Internet online polls and critiques them as instances of symbolic representation and pseudo-events that have arisen largely out of the integration of print, broadcast, and Internet media.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	299-315
Number of pages	17
Journal	Communication Studies
Volume	57
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/10510970600845941
State	Published - Sep 2006
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Internet
Opinion Polling
Poll
Polling
Pseudo Events
Symbolic
Symbolic Representation
World Wide Web

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Communication

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10.1080/10510970600845941

Cite this

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AB - The Internet continues to grow as an information and entertainment medium. Internet growth has implications for the news industry. Twenty-four hour news networks such as CNN and MSNBC regularly encourage viewers of their television programs to visit their Web sites. While visiting news Web sites, visitors are invited to participate in opinion polls. Unfortunately, these online opinion polls are not scientific and have little real news value. In spite of these limitations, news Web sites' Internet polls are often treated as serious topics in broadcast news discussions. This article examines media organizations' Internet online polls and critiques them as instances of symbolic representation and pseudo-events that have arisen largely out of the integration of print, broadcast, and Internet media.

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A critique of internet polls as symbolic representation and pseudo-events

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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