Wouldn’t touch it with a 10-foot poll
Description: Student journalists want to tackle ambitious stories -- drug use, teen sex, bullying -- but they struggle for sources. So, the solution? They put polls up on social media for anyone to answer. But these surveys are often misleading or plain wrong. Let's chat about more revealing (and trustworthy) ways to research your most sensitive stories.
November 2021: Wouldn't touch it with a 10-foot poll
National High School Journalism Convention: Eric Thomas
November 2021
WOULDN’T
TOUCH IT WITH A 10-FOOT POLL
National High School Journalism Convention: Eric Thomas
All good journalism starts with a question.
How will you ask the question?
November 2021: Wouldn't touch it with a 10-foot poll
National High School Journalism Convention: Eric Thomas
In-person interviewing?
By emailing your source?
By scheduling a Zoom interview?
By talking on the phone?
By meeting with a group of five students?
By using public records?
By reading professional media?
November 2021: Wouldn't touch it with a 10-foot poll
National High School Journalism Convention: Eric Thomas
By tossing a poll on your publication’s Twitter feed about teen sex and using the 55 responses to represent your school of 1,500 students?
Touchy subjects invite “joke answers” or lying
Small samples can mislead
Might not even be your students
Subject to “ballot stuffing”
November 2021: Wouldn't touch it with a 10-foot poll
National High School Journalism Convention: Eric Thomas
Oct. 14 at 4:30 pm
November 2021: Wouldn't touch it with a 10-foot poll
National High School Journalism Convention: Eric Thomas
Oct. 15 at 5:30 pm
November 2021: Wouldn't touch it with a 10-foot poll
National High School Journalism Convention: Eric Thomas
Let’s start with a simple rule
AVOID POLLS THAT YOU ADMINISTER
Why?
Because consider the pros . . .
November 2021: Wouldn't touch it with a 10-foot poll
National High School Journalism Convention: Eric Thomas
THE NEW YORK TIMES
Vaping
November 2021: Wouldn't touch it with a 10-foot poll
National High School Journalism Convention: Eric Thomas
THE ATLANTIC
Teen sex
November 2021: Wouldn't touch it with a 10-foot poll
National High School Journalism Convention: Eric Thomas
EDUCATION WEEK
Use of exams & Common Core
November 2021: Wouldn't touch it with a 10-foot poll
National High School Journalism Convention: Eric Thomas
THE SIERRA CLUB
Greenhouse gas initiative
November 2021: Wouldn't touch it with a 10-foot poll
National High School Journalism Convention: Eric Thomas
All good journalism starts with a question.
An original, local and narrow question — one that doesn’t involve YOU DOING polling.
November 2021: Wouldn't touch it with a 10-foot poll
National High School Journalism Convention: Eric Thomas
Trace other people’s reporting
NOT: I think we should survey our teens on their weight before, during and after the pandemic.
BETTER: Is our school community surprised by the national trend that shows kids and teens gaining weight during the pandemic? What could be influencing that locally?
November 2021: Wouldn't touch it with a 10-foot poll
National High School Journalism Convention: Eric Thomas
November 2021: Wouldn't touch it with a 10-foot poll
National High School Journalism Convention: Eric Thomas
November 2021: Wouldn't touch it with a 10-foot poll
National High School Journalism Convention: Eric Thomas
November 2021: Wouldn't touch it with a 10-foot poll
National High School Journalism Convention: Eric Thomas
November 2021: Wouldn't touch it with a 10-foot poll
National High School Journalism Convention: Eric Thomas
November 2021: Wouldn't touch it with a 10-foot poll
National High School Journalism Convention: Eric Thomas
Start with the study
“I don’t know what to write about.”
BETTER: Studies suggest artificial turf is to blame for an increased rate of injury for athletes. How do our school’s athletes and coaches feel?
November 2021: Wouldn't touch it with a 10-foot poll
National High School Journalism Convention: Eric Thomas
November 2021: Wouldn't touch it with a 10-foot poll
National High School Journalism Convention: Eric Thomas
November 2021: Wouldn't touch it with a 10-foot poll
National High School Journalism Convention: Eric Thomas
Pair a national study with local reaction
NOT: How many teens identify as LGBTQ in our school?
BETTER: How have the rising rates of Americans who identify as LGBTQ affected Sunflower High School students’ decisions to “come out” or not?
November 2021: Wouldn't touch it with a 10-foot poll
National High School Journalism Convention: Eric Thomas
Paired with interviews with local activists or students from your school
November 2021: Wouldn't touch it with a 10-foot poll
National High School Journalism Convention: Eric Thomas
Simply google “teen” in NEWS
NOT: What percentage of teens at Sunflower High School are addicted to social media?
BETTER: How do Sunflower High School students react to the news that TikTok may be causing tics in teen girls?
November 2021: Wouldn't touch it with a 10-foot poll
National High School Journalism Convention: Eric Thomas
November 2021: Wouldn't touch it with a 10-foot poll
National High School Journalism Convention: Eric Thomas
November 2021: Wouldn't touch it with a 10-foot poll
National High School Journalism Convention: Eric Thomas
November 2021: Wouldn't touch it with a 10-foot poll
National High School Journalism Convention: Eric Thomas
QUESTION WORDS
that help you avoid polling . . .
November 2021: Wouldn't touch it with a 10-foot poll
National High School Journalism Convention: Eric Thomas
“HOW” rather than “HOW MANY”
November 2021: Wouldn't touch it with a 10-foot poll
National High School Journalism Convention: Eric Thomas
“WHY”
November 2021: Wouldn't touch it with a 10-foot poll
National High School Journalism Convention: Eric Thomas
Choose visual words
November 2021: Wouldn't touch it with a 10-foot poll
National High School Journalism Convention: Eric Thomas
“EXPERIENCES” invites interviewing
November 2021: Wouldn't touch it with a 10-foot poll
National High School Journalism Convention: Eric Thomas
If you insist on polling . . .
November 2021: Wouldn't touch it with a 10-foot poll
National High School Journalism Convention: Eric Thomas
WORST PRACTICES
November 2021: Wouldn't touch it with a 10-foot poll
National High School Journalism Convention: Eric Thomas
BEST PRACTICES
“A fair sample is a representative sample.”
Representing entire school?
November 2021: Wouldn't touch it with a 10-foot poll
National High School Journalism Convention: Eric Thomas
BEST PRACTICES
What would you want the poll to look like if it was about a vital school decision, like eliminating your favorite class/club/sport?
Be as rigorous as you would ask others to be.
November 2021: Wouldn't touch it with a 10-foot poll
National High School Journalism Convention: Eric Thomas
BEST PRACTICES for publishing
November 2021: Wouldn't touch it with a 10-foot poll
National High School Journalism Convention: Eric Thomas
Want to hear me babble more about this?
The “Journalism 101” podcast had me as a guest talking about polls and surveys
November 2021: Wouldn't touch it with a 10-foot poll
National High School Journalism Convention: Eric Thomas
November 2021
WOULDN’T
TOUCH IT WITH A 10-FOOT POLL
National High School Journalism Convention: Eric Thomas