Blog reader survey 2006

Responses by readers of Swing State 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	13.79%	4
21-30	20.69%	6
31-40	27.59%	8
41-50	10.34%	3
51-60	17.24%	5
61-70	3.45%	1
71+	6.90%	2
Total Respondents		29
(skipped this question)		0

2. Sex

	Response Percent	Response Total
Male	82.76%	24
Female	17.24%	5
Total Respondents		29
(skipped this question)		0

3. Annual family income:

	Response Percent	Response Total
0-$10,000	3.57%	1
$10-$20,000	3.57%	1
$20-30,000	7.14%	2
$30-$45,000	25.00%	7
$45-$60,000	14.29%	4
$60-$90,000	10.71%	3
$90-$120,000	14.29%	4
$120-$150,000	3.57%	1
$150-$200,000	3.57%	1
$200-$300,000	7.14%	2
$300-$500,000	7.14%	2
>$500,000	0.00%	0
Total Respondents		28
(skipped this question)		1

4. Household size:

	Response Percent	Response Total
1	39.29%	11
2	32.14%	9
3	14.29%	4
4	0.00%	0
5	10.71%	3
6	3.57%	1
7	0.00%	0
8+	0.00%	0
Total Respondents		28
(skipped this question)		1

5. Job title:

	Response Percent	Response Total
Accountant/auditor	3.45%	1
Admin Assistant	0.00%	0
Analyst	3.45%	1
Artist/musician/entertainer	0.00%	0
Architect	0.00%	0
Associate	3.45%	1
Broker/trader/adviser	0.00%	0
CEO/Chairman/President	3.45%	1
CFO,COO,CTO,CIO	0.00%	0
Clergy	0.00%	0
Clerical worker	0.00%	0
Computer professional	0.00%	0
Consultant	3.45%	1
Director	0.00%	0
Doctor	0.00%	0
Educator	6.90%	2
Engineer	0.00%	0
Entrepreneur	0.00%	0
Government official	0.00%	0
Health care worker (other than Dr.)	0.00%	0
Homemaker	0.00%	0
Lawyer/Judge	0.00%	0
Manager	10.34%	3
Military officer	0.00%	0
Partner/principal/owner	0.00%	0
Researcher	0.00%	0
Sales	3.45%	1
Skilled labor	0.00%	0
Scientist	0.00%	0
Service provider	6.90%	2
Student	27.59%	8
Supervisor	0.00%	0
Technician	0.00%	0
Vice President	0.00%	0
Writer/editor	3.45%	1
Retired	10.34%	3
Other (please specify)	13.79%	4
Total Respondents		29
(skipped this question)		0

6. Your education:

	Response Percent	Response Total
High school graduate	0.00%	0
Some college	17.86%	5
College graduate	50.00%	14
Post-graduate degree	32.14%	9
Total Respondents		28
(skipped this question)		1

7. Industry:

	Response Percent	Response Total
Accounting	0.00%	0
Agriculture	0.00%	0
Architecture, Design	0.00%	0
Arts, Entertainment	4.35%	1
Computers, Software, Tech	0.00%	0
Construction	0.00%	0
Consulting	4.35%	1
Education	21.74%	5
Engineering	0.00%	0
Finance, Banking, Brokerage	17.39%	4
Government, Diplomacy	8.70%	2
Health care	4.35%	1
Homemaker	0.00%	0
Import, Export, Trade	0.00%	0
Information Management/Library	0.00%	0
Insurance	4.35%	1
Legal	0.00%	0
Manufacturing	0.00%	0
MarCom, Advertising, PR	0.00%	0
Media	0.00%	0
Military	0.00%	0
Non-profit/Associations	0.00%	0
Pharmaceuticals	0.00%	0
Politics	13.04%	3
Real-estate	8.70%	2
Recruiting/HR	0.00%	0
Religious	0.00%	0
Retired	4.35%	1
R&D	0.00%	0
Retail	8.70%	2
Social Services	0.00%	0
Telecommunications	0.00%	0
Transport	0.00%	0
Travel, Hospitality	0.00%	0
Wholesale	0.00%	0
Total Respondents		23
(skipped this question)		6

8. Politically, you are:

	Response Percent	Response Total
Apolitical	0.00%	0
Democrat	89.66%	26
Republican	3.45%	1
Libertarian	0.00%	0
Independent	3.45%	1
Green	3.45%	1
Total Respondents		29
(skipped this question)		0

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	11% (3)	32% (9)	21% (6)	32% (9)	4% (1)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	28
Clothes	29% (7)	17% (4)	25% (6)	21% (5)	8% (2)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	24
Software	60% (15)	28% (7)	12% (3)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	25
Music	27% (7)	62% (16)	12% (3)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	26
Books	7% (2)	50% (14)	32% (9)	11% (3)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	28
Plane tickets	35% (9)	0% (0)	0% (0)	8% (2)	31% (8)	12% (3)	8% (2)	8% (2)	0% (0)	26
Computer	58% (15)	8% (2)	4% (1)	8% (2)	15% (4)	8% (2)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	26
Consumer electronics	43% (10)	17% (4)	9% (2)	22% (5)	9% (2)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	23
Subscription to a publication	42% (10)	54% (13)	4% (1)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	24
Total Respondents										29
(skipped this question)										0

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	79.31%	23
Attended a political rally, speech, or organized protest of any kind	75.86%	22
Attended a public meeting on town or school affairs	65.52%	19
Held or run for political office	3.45%	1
Served on a committee for some local organization	34.48%	10
Served as an officer for some club or organization	34.48%	10
Written a letter to the Editor of a newspaper or magazine or called a live radio or TV show to express an opinion	48.28%	14
Signed a petition	75.86%	22
Worked for a political party	58.62%	17
Made a speech	27.59%	8
Written an article for a magazine or newspaper	13.79%	4
Been an active member of any group that tries to influence public policy or government	68.97%	20
Total Respondents		29
(skipped this question)		0

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	25.00%	7
5-10	10.71%	3
11-20	32.14%	9
21-30	14.29%	4
31-40	10.71%	3
41-50	0.00%	0
51-60	3.57%	1
61-70	0.00%	0
71-80	0.00%	0
81-100	0.00%	0
101-150	3.57%	1
151-200	0.00%	0
200+	0.00%	0
Total Respondents		28
(skipped this question)		1

12. What newspapers do you read at least once a week?

	Print	Online	Respondents Total
The New York Times	44% (7)	81% (13)	16
USA Today	80% (4)	20% (1)	5
The Washington Times	0% (0)	100% (2)	2
The Boston Globe	100% (1)	0% (0)	1
The Wall Street Journal	57% (4)	57% (4)	7
The Financial Times	0% (0)	100% (1)	1
The Guardian	0% (0)	100% (2)	2
The Washington Post	11% (2)	100% (18)	18
The Hill	0% (0)	100% (7)	7
The Los Angeles Times	0% (0)	100% (5)	5
The Philadelphia Inquirer	50% (1)	50% (1)	2
The Christian Science Monitor	0% (0)	100% (6)	6
Roll Call	13% (1)	88% (7)	8
National Journal	20% (1)	100% (5)	5
The Jerusalem Post	0% (0)	100% (1)	1
Total Respondents			24
(skipped this question)			5

13. Magazines you read regularly:

	Print	Online	Respondents Total
The Advocate	50% (1)	50% (1)	2
American Rifleman	0% (0)	0% (0)	0
The American Prospect	0% (0)	100% (2)	2
Atlantic Monthly	20% (1)	80% (4)	5
Barrons	0% (0)	0% (0)	0
Business 2.0	0% (0)	0% (0)	0
Business Week	100% (2)	0% (0)	2
Christianity Today	0% (0)	100% (1)	1
Depatures	0% (0)	0% (0)	0
The Economist	50% (4)	50% (4)	8
Editor & Publisher	0% (0)	100% (1)	1
Esquire	0% (0)	0% (0)	0
Forbes	0% (0)	0% (0)	0
Foreign Policy	100% (1)	0% (0)	1
Fortune	0% (0)	0% (0)	0
Guidepost	0% (0)	0% (0)	0
Harpers	100% (1)	0% (0)	1
Harvard Business Review	0% (0)	0% (0)	0
Inc.	0% (0)	0% (0)	0
The Jerusalem report	0% (0)	0% (0)	0
Money	67% (2)	33% (1)	3
Mother Jones	0% (0)	100% (2)	2
National Geographic	80% (4)	20% (1)	5
The Nation	25% (1)	75% (3)	4
National Review	0% (0)	100% (1)	1
New York	0% (0)	0% (0)	0
The New Yorker	71% (5)	29% (2)	7
The New York Review of Books	100% (1)	0% (0)	1
The New Republic	33% (1)	67% (2)	3
New Scientist	0% (0)	0% (0)	0
Newsweek	100% (7)	0% (0)	7
NRA Rifleman	0% (0)	0% (0)	0
Onion	0% (0)	100% (5)	5
Popular Science	0% (0)	0% (0)	0
Reason Magazine	0% (0)	0% (0)	0
Rolling Stone	67% (2)	33% (1)	3
Scientific American	0% (0)	100% (1)	1
The Smithsonian	100% (2)	0% (0)	2
Salon	0% (0)	100% (3)	3
Slate	20% (1)	80% (4)	5
Smart Money	100% (1)	0% (0)	1
Soldier of Fortune	0% (0)	0% (0)	0
Time	90% (9)	10% (1)	10
The Week	0% (0)	0% (0)	0
Time	0% (0)	0% (0)	0
US News & World Reports	100% (3)	0% (0)	3
Utne Reader	0% (0)	0% (0)	0
Vanity Fair	0% (0)	0% (0)	0
The Washington Monthly	0% (0)	0% (0)	0
Weekly Standard	0% (0)	100% (1)	1
Wired	0% (0)	100% (1)	1
Total Respondents			25
(skipped this question)			4

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	10% (2)	14% (3)	48% (10)	29% (6)	0% (0)	21
Television	4% (1)	27% (7)	46% (12)	23% (6)	0% (0)	26
Radio	13% (3)	25% (6)	29% (7)	21% (5)	13% (3)	24
Newspapers (print)	12% (3)	4% (1)	32% (8)	48% (12)	4% (1)	25
Newspapers (online)	9% (2)	5% (1)	23% (5)	41% (9)	23% (5)	22
Magazines (print)	12% (3)	4% (1)	38% (10)	46% (12)	0% (0)	26
Magazines (online)	33% (7)	5% (1)	43% (9)	14% (3)	5% (1)	21
Blogs	0% (0)	0% (0)	19% (5)	35% (9)	46% (12)	26
Forums	57% (12)	19% (4)	10% (2)	14% (3)	0% (0)	21

% of total media consumption
	0	10	20	30	40	50	60	70	80	90	100	Response Total
Word of mouth	40% (6)	33% (5)	20% (3)	7% (1)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	15
Television	14% (3)	45% (10)	23% (5)	14% (3)	0% (0)	5% (1)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	22
Radio	45% (9)	25% (5)	15% (3)	0% (0)	10% (2)	0% (0)	0% (0)	5% (1)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	20
Newspapers (print)	14% (3)	33% (7)	43% (9)	10% (2)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	21
Newspapers (online)	5% (1)	42% (8)	21% (4)	11% (2)	11% (2)	5% (1)	0% (0)	5% (1)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	19
Magazines (print)	24% (5)	48% (10)	24% (5)	5% (1)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	21
Magazines (online)	40% (6)	40% (6)	20% (3)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	15
Blogs	4% (1)	13% (3)	26% (6)	26% (6)	13% (3)	4% (1)	9% (2)	4% (1)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	23
Forums	64% (7)	27% (3)	9% (1)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	11
Total Respondents												27
(skipped this question)												2

15. Do you have your own blog?

	Response Percent	Response Total
Yes	13.79%	4
No	86.21%	25
Total Respondents		29
(skipped this question)		0

16. Why do you blog?

	Response Percent	Response Total
To influence public opinion.	50.00%	2
To let off steam.	50.00%	2
For money.	25.00%	1
For fame.	25.00%	1
To meet new people.	0.00%	0
To formulate new ideas.	0.00%	0
To stay in touch with old friends.	0.00%	0
To keep track of my thoughts.	25.00%	1
I'm not sure, but I love it.	25.00%	1
To smite my enemies.	25.00%	1
To praise my friends.	25.00%	1
Other (please specify)	0.00%	0
Total Respondents		4
(skipped this question)		25

17. When did you start blogging?

	Response Percent	Response Total
1998	0.00%	0
1999	0.00%	0
2000	0.00%	0
2001	0.00%	0
2002	0.00%	0
2003	25.00%	1
2004	0.00%	0
2005	25.00%	1
2006	50.00%	2
Total Respondents		4
(skipped this question)		25

18. How many blogs do you read daily?

	Response Percent	Response Total
1	6.90%	2
2	6.90%	2
3	6.90%	2
4	3.45%	1
5	31.03%	9
6	10.34%	3
7	6.90%	2
8	0.00%	0
9	3.45%	1
10	10.34%	3
11-15	6.90%	2
16-25	0.00%	0
26-50	6.90%	2
51-100	0.00%	0
101-200	0.00%	0
200+	0.00%	0
Total Respondents		29
(skipped this question)		0

19. Do you leave comments in other people's blogs?

	Response Percent	Response Total
Yes	72.41%	21
No	27.59%	8
Total Respondents		29
(skipped this question)		0

20. In an average week, roughly how many hours do you spend reading blogs?

	Response Percent	Response Total
0	3.45%	1
1	6.90%	2
2	6.90%	2
3	3.45%	1
4	6.90%	2
5	6.90%	2
6	3.45%	1
7	10.34%	3
8	6.90%	2
9	6.90%	2
10	13.79%	4
11	0.00%	0
12	0.00%	0
13	0.00%	0
14	3.45%	1
15	6.90%	2
16	0.00%	0
17	0.00%	0
18	0.00%	0
19-24	3.45%	1
24-30	0.00%	0
30-36	3.45%	1
36+	6.90%	2
Total Respondents		29
(skipped this question)		0

21. You read blogs for:

	Response Percent	Response Total
Faster news	65.52%	19
Latest trends	34.48%	10
Transparent biases	10.34%	3
Better perspective	68.97%	20
More personality	31.03%	9
More honesty	48.28%	14
News I can't find elsewhere	75.86%	22
Links	24.14%	7
Humor	31.03%	9
Other (please specify)	10.34%	3
Total Respondents		29
(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	77.78%	21
Occasionally	7.41%	2
Often	14.81%	4
Always	0.00%	0
Total Respondents		27
(skipped this question)		2

25. You listen to how many podcasts each week:

	Response Percent	Response Total
Never	85.19%	23
1	3.70%	1
2	3.70%	1
3	3.70%	1
4	0.00%	0
5	0.00%	0
6	0.00%	0
7	0.00%	0
8	0.00%	0
9	0.00%	0
10	0.00%	0
11-15	3.70%	1
16-25	0.00%	0
>25	0.00%	0
Total Respondents		27
(skipped this question)		2