The Analytical Midgets at Reuters

In its latest batch of shoddy reporting, Reuters reports on the results of a poll that evaluates how often blogs are read. As a result of its sophomoric approach, the readership of blogs, and inherently their importance, is drastically downplayed. While we know that 0% of people read my blog, we should put the aggregate amount of blog readers in the context of those of us that are politically active.

If we assume that the minimum standard for being politically active is voting in the midterm election, the average voter turnout in a midterm election since I’ve been alive has been 38.2%.

Since 22% of respondents say they read blogs regularly, then 58% of people who are at least midly interested in politics read blogs regularly. Blogs seem more important now don’t they?

Reuters also says that 56% of people never read political blogs. Well, only 52.5% of people vote in a Presidential election. Stop the presses! In other words, 8.5% of people who vote in Presidential elections never read blogs. While there may be some people who vote who don't read blogs (and vice-versa), the key take-away is that it is influence of political blogs should be put into context of those who vote.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A majority of Americans do not read political blogs, the online commentaries that have proliferated in the race for the U.S. presidency, according to a poll released on Monday.
Only 22 percent of people responding to the poll said they read blogs regularly, meaning several times a month or more, according to the survey conducted by Harris Interactive.
Political blogs, in which writers, pundits and other participants voice opinions in online forums, burst into the spotlight in the 2004 and 2008 presidential campaigns. Some of the most high-profile blogs are influential on campaign strategies, media coverage and public perception of the candidates and issues.
Unlike traditional, mainstream media, blogs often adopt a specific point of view. Critics complain they can contain unchecked facts, are poorly edited and use unreliable sources.
Despite the attention blogs can get, the poll said 56 percent of Americans say they never read blogs that discuss politics. Another 23 percent read them several times a year, the survey showed....