Responses by readers of Blackfive to March 2006 political blogs reader survey, organized
by Blogads.com. Full survey responses and party breakouts available here.
1. Age?
    Response
Percent
Response
Total
<14
0.00% 0
14-21
1.54% 3
21-30
11.28% 22
31-40
25.64% 50
41-50
29.74% 58
51-60
20.00% 39
61-70
8.72% 17
71+
3.08% 6
Total Respondents 195
(skipped this question) 0
2. Sex
    Response
Percent
Response
Total
Male
70.26% 137
Female
29.74% 58
Total Respondents 195
(skipped this question) 0
3. Annual family income:
    Response
Percent
Response
Total
0-$10,000
0.00% 0
$10-$20,000
1.07% 2
$20-30,000
6.42% 12
$30-$45,000
8.56% 16
$45-$60,000
13.37% 25
$60-$90,000
24.60% 46
$90-$120,000
21.93% 41
$120-$150,000
10.16% 19
$150-$200,000
7.49% 14
$200-$300,000
2.67% 5
$300-$500,000
2.67% 5
>$500,000
1.07% 2
Total Respondents 187
(skipped this question) 8
4. Household size:
    Response
Percent
Response
Total
1
22.40% 43
2
28.12% 54
3
15.10% 29
4
25.00% 48
5
5.73% 11
6
2.60% 5
7
1.04% 2
8+
0.00% 0
Total Respondents 192
(skipped this question) 3
5. Job title:
    Response
Percent
Response
Total
Accountant/auditor
0.51% 1
Admin Assistant
2.56% 5
Analyst
4.10% 8
Artist/musician/entertainer
1.03% 2
Architect
0.00% 0
Associate
0.51% 1
Broker/trader/adviser
1.03% 2
CEO/Chairman/President
0.51% 1
CFO,COO,CTO,CIO
1.03% 2
Clergy
0.51% 1
Clerical worker
1.54% 3
Computer professional
8.21% 16
Consultant
3.08% 6
Director
1.03% 2
Doctor
1.03% 2
Educator
3.59% 7
Engineer
8.72% 17
Entrepreneur
1.54% 3
Government official
1.54% 3
Health care worker (other than Dr.)
2.05% 4
Homemaker
4.62% 9
Lawyer/Judge
1.54% 3
Manager
8.72% 17
Military officer
3.08% 6
Partner/principal/owner
0.51% 1
Researcher
1.03% 2
Sales
6.15% 12
Skilled labor
1.54% 3
Scientist
0.00% 0
Service provider
0.51% 1
Student
3.08% 6
Supervisor
1.03% 2
Technician
2.56% 5
Vice President
0.00% 0
Writer/editor
2.56% 5
Retired
7.69% 15
Other (please specify)
11.28% 22
Total Respondents 195
(skipped this question) 0
6. Your education:
    Response
Percent
Response
Total
High school graduate
3.61% 7
Some college
27.84% 54
College graduate
40.21% 78
Post-graduate degree
28.35% 55
Total Respondents 194
(skipped this question) 1
7. Industry:
    Response
Percent
Response
Total
Accounting
0.54% 1
Agriculture
1.08% 2
Architecture, Design
0.54% 1
Arts, Entertainment
1.62% 3
Computers, Software, Tech
7.57% 14
Construction
3.24% 6
Consulting
5.41% 10
Education
5.41% 10
Engineering
4.32% 8
Finance, Banking, Brokerage
1.62% 3
Government, Diplomacy
5.41% 10
Health care
10.27% 19
Homemaker
2.70% 5
Import, Export, Trade
1.08% 2
Information Management/Library
1.08% 2
Insurance
3.24% 6
Legal
4.86% 9
Manufacturing
9.19% 17
MarCom, Advertising, PR
1.08% 2
Media
2.16% 4
Military
11.35% 21
Non-profit/Associations
0.54% 1
Pharmaceuticals
0.00% 0
Politics
0.00% 0
Real-estate
2.16% 4
Recruiting/HR
0.00% 0
Religious
0.54% 1
Retired
3.24% 6
R&D
0.00% 0
Retail
3.24% 6
Social Services
0.00% 0
Telecommunications
3.78% 7
Transport
2.16% 4
Travel, Hospitality
0.54% 1
Wholesale
0.00% 0
Total Respondents 185
(skipped this question) 10
8. Politically, you are:
    Response
Percent
Response
Total
Apolitical
2.65% 5
Democrat
2.65% 5
Republican
64.55% 122
Libertarian
9.52% 18
Independent
20.63% 39
Green
0.00% 0
Total Respondents 189
(skipped this question) 6
9. In the last 6 months, how much money have you spent online in each of the following categories?
Spending range
  0 $1-$100 $100-$199 $200-$499 $500-$999 $1000-$1499 $1500-$2499 $2500-$4999 $5000+ Response
Total
Contributed to a cause/campaign 31% (53) 27% (46) 14% (24) 13% (23) 8% (14) 3% (6) 2% (3) 1% (2) 1% (1) 172
Clothes 32% (52) 22% (36) 13% (21) 21% (34) 9% (15) 3% (5) 1% (1) 0% (0) 1% (1) 165
Software 33% (57) 30% (51) 18% (31) 11% (19) 5% (8) 2% (3) 1% (1) 1% (1) 0% (0) 171
Music 39% (65) 45% (75) 8% (14) 6% (10) 1% (1) 1% (1) 0% (0) 0% (0) 0% (0) 166
Books 14% (26) 34% (61) 23% (42) 17% (30) 10% (18) 1% (1) 2% (3) 0% (0) 0% (0) 181
Plane tickets 35% (61) 0% (0) 3% (5) 14% (24) 18% (32) 12% (21) 8% (14) 7% (13) 3% (6) 176
Computer 49% (83) 11% (18) 7% (11) 8% (14) 7% (11) 8% (14) 7% (11) 3% (5) 1% (1) 168
Consumer electronics 48% (80) 11% (19) 13% (21) 11% (18) 9% (15) 2% (4) 3% (5) 3% (5) 1% (1) 168
Subscription to a publication 51% (87) 37% (62) 7% (11) 5% (8) 0% (0) 1% (1) 0% (0) 0% (0) 0% (0) 169
Total Respondents 192
(skipped this question) 3
10. Which of the following have you done in the last twelve months:
    Response
Percent
Response
Total
Written or called any politician at the state, local, or national level
73.30% 129
Attended a political rally, speech, or organized protest of any kind
17.61% 31
Attended a public meeting on town or school affairs
36.93% 65
Held or run for political office
0.00% 0
Served on a committee for some local organization
26.14% 46
Served as an officer for some club or organization
26.70% 47
Written a letter to the Editor of a newspaper or magazine or called a live radio or TV show to express an opinion
47.16% 83
Signed a petition
66.48% 117
Worked for a political party
14.20% 25
Made a speech
11.36% 20
Written an article for a magazine or newspaper
17.05% 30
Been an active member of any group that tries to influence public policy or government
28.98% 51
Total Respondents 176
(skipped this question) 19
11. In an average week, how many friends and colleagues do you e-mail, IM or talk with about political news or opinions? (Please exclude web postings.)
    Response
Percent
Response
Total
1-5
37.31% 72
5-10
38.34% 74
11-20
8.81% 17
21-30
7.77% 15
31-40
2.07% 4
41-50
1.55% 3
51-60
1.04% 2
61-70
0.52% 1
71-80
0.00% 0
81-100
0.52% 1
101-150
1.04% 2
151-200
0.00% 0
200+
1.04% 2
Total Respondents 193
(skipped this question) 2
12. What newspapers do you read at least once a week?
  Print Online Respondents
Total
The New York Times 5% (2) 95% (41) 43
USA Today 48% (12) 52% (13) 25
The Washington Times 16% (7) 88% (38) 43
The Boston Globe 0% (0) 100% (11) 11
The Wall Street Journal 28% (23) 83% (69) 83
The Financial Times 7% (1) 93% (14) 15
The Guardian 7% (1) 93% (13) 14
The Washington Post 5% (3) 97% (57) 59
The Hill 0% (0) 100% (5) 5
The Los Angeles Times 10% (2) 90% (18) 20
The Philadelphia Inquirer 0% (0) 100% (3) 3
The Christian Science Monitor 6% (1) 94% (16) 17
Roll Call 0% (0) 100% (11) 11
National Journal 0% (0) 100% (5) 5
The Jerusalem Post 0% (0) 100% (15) 15
Total Respondents 129
(skipped this question) 66
13. Magazines you read regularly:
  Print Online Respondents
Total
The Advocate 0% (0) 100% (1) 1
American Rifleman 94% (33) 9% (3) 35
The American Prospect 33% (1) 67% (2) 3
Atlantic Monthly 56% (9) 50% (8) 16
Barrons 33% (1) 67% (2) 3
Business 2.0 40% (2) 60% (3) 5
Business Week 44% (4) 56% (5) 9
Christianity Today 60% (3) 40% (2) 5
Depatures 0% (0) 0% (0) 0
The Economist 50% (9) 61% (11) 18
Editor & Publisher 17% (1) 83% (5) 6
Esquire 0% (0) 100% (1) 1
Forbes 67% (8) 33% (4) 12
Foreign Policy 25% (2) 75% (6) 8
Fortune 86% (6) 14% (1) 7
Guidepost 100% (5) 0% (0) 5
Harpers 50% (1) 50% (1) 2
Harvard Business Review 67% (2) 33% (1) 3
Inc. 67% (4) 33% (2) 6
The Jerusalem report 0% (0) 100% (2) 2
Money 71% (10) 29% (4) 14
Mother Jones 0% (0) 100% (1) 1
National Geographic 83% (40) 21% (10) 48
The Nation 50% (1) 50% (1) 2
National Review 21% (12) 84% (47) 56
New York 0% (0) 0% (0) 0
The New Yorker 40% (2) 60% (3) 5
The New York Review of Books 0% (0) 100% (1) 1
The New Republic 14% (1) 100% (7) 7
New Scientist 0% (0) 100% (3) 3
Newsweek 68% (17) 36% (9) 25
NRA Rifleman 82% (14) 24% (4) 17
Onion 4% (1) 96% (25) 26
Popular Science 80% (12) 27% (4) 15
Reason Magazine 14% (1) 86% (6) 7
Rolling Stone 80% (4) 40% (2) 5
Scientific American 83% (10) 25% (3) 12
The Smithsonian 92% (23) 12% (3) 25
Salon 0% (0) 100% (6) 6
Slate 0% (0) 100% (22) 22
Smart Money 60% (3) 40% (2) 5
Soldier of Fortune 80% (8) 30% (3) 10
Time 72% (21) 31% (9) 29
The Week 100% (3) 0% (0) 3
Time 57% (4) 57% (4) 7
US News & World Reports 74% (20) 33% (9) 27
Utne Reader 50% (1) 50% (1) 2
Vanity Fair 58% (7) 42% (5) 12
The Washington Monthly 0% (0) 100% (2) 2
Weekly Standard 23% (10) 80% (35) 44
Wired 23% (5) 77% (17) 22
Total Respondents 157
(skipped this question) 38
14. Please rate how well the following media provide you with news and opinion:
Usefulness
  NA Worthless Somewhat useful Useful Extremely useful Response
Total
Word of mouth 13% (21) 20% (32) 52% (84) 10% (17) 5% (8) 162
Television 4% (8) 41% (75) 45% (84) 8% (15) 2% (3) 185
Radio 10% (17) 12% (21) 35% (61) 28% (49) 14% (24) 172
Newspapers (print) 10% (17) 36% (62) 37% (65) 16% (27) 2% (3) 174
Newspapers (online) 7% (12) 13% (23) 50% (90) 22% (40) 8% (15) 180
Magazines (print) 12% (21) 19% (33) 49% (83) 16% (28) 3% (5) 170
Magazines (online) 19% (31) 13% (21) 46% (73) 19% (31) 3% (4) 160
Blogs 0% (0) 0% (0) 4% (7) 31% (59) 65% (124) 190
Forums 43% (67) 12% (19) 22% (34) 16% (25) 7% (11) 156
% of total media consumption
  0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Response
Total
Word of mouth 44% (59) 49% (65) 4% (5) 1% (1) 1% (1) 0% (0) 0% (0) 1% (1) 0% (0) 1% (1) 0% (0) 133
Television 27% (42) 48% (75) 15% (23) 7% (11) 2% (3) 1% (1) 1% (1) 1% (1) 0% (0) 0% (0) 0% (0) 157
Radio 21% (31) 31% (46) 18% (27) 17% (25) 6% (9) 3% (5) 1% (1) 1% (1) 1% (2) 0% (0) 0% (0) 147
Newspapers (print) 39% (54) 46% (64) 12% (17) 1% (2) 1% (1) 1% (1) 0% (0) 0% (0) 0% (0) 1% (1) 0% (0) 140
Newspapers (online) 16% (25) 53% (82) 13% (20) 10% (15) 5% (7) 2% (3) 1% (1) 1% (1) 0% (0) 0% (0) 0% (0) 154
Magazines (print) 35% (48) 48% (66) 12% (16) 3% (4) 2% (3) 1% (1) 0% (0) 0% (0) 0% (0) 0% (0) 0% (0) 138
Magazines (online) 32% (41) 51% (66) 16% (21) 1% (1) 0% (0) 0% (0) 0% (0) 0% (0) 1% (1) 0% (0) 0% (0) 130
Blogs 0% (0) 9% (16) 15% (27) 20% (36) 15% (27) 17% (31) 9% (17) 7% (12) 6% (10) 1% (1) 2% (3) 180
Forums 54% (63) 26% (31) 11% (13) 5% (6) 2% (2) 0% (0) 1% (1) 0% (0) 0% (0) 1% (1) 0% (0) 117
Total Respondents 195
(skipped this question) 0
15. Do you have your own blog?
    Response
Percent
Response
Total
Yes
28.21% 55
No
71.79% 140
Total Respondents 195
(skipped this question) 0
16. Why do you blog?
    Response
Percent
Response
Total
To influence public opinion.
41.82% 23
To let off steam.
47.27% 26
For money.
0.00% 0
For fame.
3.64% 2
To meet new people.
30.91% 17
To formulate new ideas.
49.09% 27
To stay in touch with old friends.
23.64% 13
To keep track of my thoughts.
50.91% 28
I'm not sure, but I love it.
18.18% 10
To smite my enemies.
14.55% 8
To praise my friends.
5.45% 3
Other (please specify)
32.73% 18
Total Respondents 55
(skipped this question) 140
17. When did you start blogging?
    Response
Percent
Response
Total
1998
1.82% 1
1999
1.82% 1
2000
0.00% 0
2001
0.00% 0
2002
0.00% 0
2003
10.91% 6
2004
32.73% 18
2005
43.64% 24
2006
9.09% 5
Total Respondents 55
(skipped this question) 140
18. How many blogs do you read daily?
    Response
Percent
Response
Total
1
1.54% 3
2
3.08% 6
3
3.08% 6
4
4.62% 9
5
16.41% 32
6
8.21% 16
7
3.59% 7
8
4.62% 9
9
1.03% 2
10
12.31% 24
11-15
22.05% 43
16-25
13.33% 26
26-50
5.13% 10
51-100
0.51% 1
101-200
0.00% 0
200+
0.51% 1
Total Respondents 195
(skipped this question) 0
19. Do you leave comments in other people's blogs?
    Response
Percent
Response
Total
Yes
72.25% 138
No
27.75% 53
Total Respondents 191
(skipped this question) 4
20. In an average week, roughly how many hours do you spend reading blogs?
    Response
Percent
Response
Total
0
0.00% 0
1
1.54% 3
2
4.10% 8
3
1.54% 3
4
3.08% 6
5
7.69% 15
6
2.56% 5
7
7.18% 14
8
5.64% 11
9
1.54% 3
10
16.92% 33
11
0.51% 1
12
5.64% 11
13
1.03% 2
14
4.62% 9
15
11.79% 23
16
1.54% 3
17
1.03% 2
18
1.54% 3
19-24
10.26% 20
24-30
3.59% 7
30-36
2.56% 5
36+
4.10% 8
Total Respondents 195
(skipped this question) 0
21. You read blogs for:
    Response
Percent
Response
Total
Faster news
62.56% 122
Latest trends
18.97% 37
Transparent biases
42.56% 83
Better perspective
88.21% 172
More personality
42.56% 83
More honesty
81.03% 158
News I can't find elsewhere
88.21% 172
Links
46.15% 90
Humor
60.51% 118
Other (please specify)
12.31% 24
Total Respondents 195
(skipped this question) 0
22. List up to ten of your favorite blogs (to make this data parsable and useful for bloggers, please put each blog name on a new row and provide at least the first full word of blog's name):
23. Referring blog:
24. You read blogs via RSS:
    Response
Percent
Response
Total
Never
65.32% 113
Occasionally
24.86% 43
Often
6.36% 11
Always
4.62% 8
Total Respondents 173
(skipped this question) 22
25. You listen to how many podcasts each week:
    Response
Percent
Response
Total
Never
76.32% 145
1
8.95% 17
2
8.95% 17
3
1.05% 2
4
1.05% 2
5
3.16% 6
6
0.00% 0
7
0.00% 0
8
0.00% 0
9
0.00% 0
10
0.00% 0
11-15
0.53% 1
16-25
0.00% 0
>25
0.00% 0
Total Respondents 190
(skipped this question) 5