Responses by readers of Talk Left 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% 1
21-30
16.92% 11
31-40
9.23% 6
41-50
20.00% 13
51-60
35.38% 23
61-70
15.38% 10
71+
1.54% 1
Total Respondents 65
(skipped this question) 0
2. Sex
    Response
Percent		 Response
Total
Male
67.69% 44
Female
32.31% 21
Total Respondents 65
(skipped this question) 0
3. Annual family income:
    Response
Percent		 Response
Total
0-$10,000
15.00% 9
$10-$20,000
3.33% 2
$20-30,000
5.00% 3
$30-$45,000
5.00% 3
$45-$60,000
10.00% 6
$60-$90,000
21.67% 13
$90-$120,000
16.67% 10
$120-$150,000
10.00% 6
$150-$200,000
5.00% 3
$200-$300,000
8.33% 5
$300-$500,000
0.00% 0
>$500,000
0.00% 0
Total Respondents 60
(skipped this question) 5
4. Household size:
    Response
Percent		 Response
Total
1
25.00% 16
2
39.06% 25
3
10.94% 7
4
17.19% 11
5
3.12% 2
6
3.12% 2
7
1.56% 1
8+
0.00% 0
Total Respondents 64
(skipped this question) 1
5. Job title:
    Response
Percent		 Response
Total
Accountant/auditor
0.00% 0
Admin Assistant
0.00% 0
Analyst
1.54% 1
Artist/musician/entertainer
3.08% 2
Architect
0.00% 0
Associate
0.00% 0
Broker/trader/adviser
0.00% 0
CEO/Chairman/President
1.54% 1
CFO,COO,CTO,CIO
0.00% 0
Clergy
0.00% 0
Clerical worker
1.54% 1
Computer professional
3.08% 2
Consultant
1.54% 1
Director
0.00% 0
Doctor
0.00% 0
Educator
12.31% 8
Engineer
3.08% 2
Entrepreneur
4.62% 3
Government official
1.54% 1
Health care worker (other than Dr.)
0.00% 0
Homemaker
1.54% 1
Lawyer/Judge
16.92% 11
Manager
0.00% 0
Military officer
0.00% 0
Partner/principal/owner
3.08% 2
Researcher
1.54% 1
Sales
0.00% 0
Skilled labor
1.54% 1
Scientist
3.08% 2
Service provider
3.08% 2
Student
10.77% 7
Supervisor
0.00% 0
Technician
0.00% 0
Vice President
0.00% 0
Writer/editor
0.00% 0
Retired
10.77% 7
Other (please specify)
13.85% 9
Total Respondents 65
(skipped this question) 0
6. Your education:
    Response
Percent		 Response
Total
High school graduate
1.54% 1
Some college
16.92% 11
College graduate
35.38% 23
Post-graduate degree
46.15% 30
Total Respondents 65
(skipped this question) 0
7. Industry:
    Response
Percent		 Response
Total
Accounting
0.00% 0
Agriculture
0.00% 0
Architecture, Design
1.59% 1
Arts, Entertainment
6.35% 4
Computers, Software, Tech
7.94% 5
Construction
0.00% 0
Consulting
1.59% 1
Education
20.63% 13
Engineering
3.17% 2
Finance, Banking, Brokerage
1.59% 1
Government, Diplomacy
4.76% 3
Health care
0.00% 0
Homemaker
0.00% 0
Import, Export, Trade
0.00% 0
Information Management/Library
0.00% 0
Insurance
1.59% 1
Legal
23.81% 15
Manufacturing
1.59% 1
MarCom, Advertising, PR
3.17% 2
Media
1.59% 1
Military
0.00% 0
Non-profit/Associations
1.59% 1
Pharmaceuticals
0.00% 0
Politics
0.00% 0
Real-estate
0.00% 0
Recruiting/HR
0.00% 0
Religious
0.00% 0
Retired
3.17% 2
R&D
3.17% 2
Retail
3.17% 2
Social Services
4.76% 3
Telecommunications
1.59% 1
Transport
0.00% 0
Travel, Hospitality
3.17% 2
Wholesale
0.00% 0
Total Respondents 63
(skipped this question) 2
8. Politically, you are:
    Response
Percent		 Response
Total
Apolitical
0.00% 0
Democrat
69.23% 45
Republican
4.62% 3
Libertarian
3.08% 2
Independent
18.46% 12
Green
4.62% 3
Total Respondents 65
(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 33% (20) 30% (18) 18% (11) 10% (6) 8% (5) 0% (0) 2% (1) 0% (0) 0% (0) 61
Clothes 37% (22) 12% (7) 20% (12) 17% (10) 8% (5) 3% (2) 2% (1) 2% (1) 0% (0) 60
Software 42% (25) 27% (16) 8% (5) 13% (8) 8% (5) 2% (1) 0% (0) 0% (0) 0% (0) 60
Music 39% (22) 39% (22) 14% (8) 7% (4) 2% (1) 0% (0) 0% (0) 0% (0) 0% (0) 57
Books 15% (9) 32% (20) 29% (18) 13% (8) 6% (4) 2% (1) 2% (1) 0% (0) 2% (1) 62
Plane tickets 31% (19) 0% (0) 5% (3) 15% (9) 16% (10) 20% (12) 10% (6) 3% (2) 0% (0) 61
Computer 50% (29) 10% (6) 5% (3) 7% (4) 7% (4) 5% (3) 16% (9) 0% (0) 0% (0) 58
Consumer electronics 58% (33) 16% (9) 7% (4) 11% (6) 7% (4) 2% (1) 0% (0) 0% (0) 0% (0) 57
Subscription to a publication 53% (31) 33% (19) 12% (7) 2% (1) 0% (0) 0% (0) 0% (0) 0% (0) 0% (0) 58
Total Respondents 64
(skipped this question) 1
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
85.00% 51
Attended a political rally, speech, or organized protest of any kind
46.67% 28
Attended a public meeting on town or school affairs
56.67% 34
Held or run for political office
5.00% 3
Served on a committee for some local organization
28.33% 17
Served as an officer for some club or organization
30.00% 18
Written a letter to the Editor of a newspaper or magazine or called a live radio or TV show to express an opinion
45.00% 27
Signed a petition
76.67% 46
Worked for a political party
30.00% 18
Made a speech
16.67% 10
Written an article for a magazine or newspaper
13.33% 8
Been an active member of any group that tries to influence public policy or government
46.67% 28
Total Respondents 60
(skipped this question) 5
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
40.00% 26
5-10
33.85% 22
11-20
9.23% 6
21-30
4.62% 3
31-40
4.62% 3
41-50
3.08% 2
51-60
3.08% 2
61-70
0.00% 0
71-80
0.00% 0
81-100
0.00% 0
101-150
1.54% 1
151-200
0.00% 0
200+
0.00% 0
Total Respondents 65
(skipped this question) 0
12. What newspapers do you read at least once a week?
  Print Online Respondents
Total
The New York Times 27% (13) 82% (40) 49
USA Today 33% (3) 67% (6) 9
The Washington Times 0% (0) 100% (5) 5
The Boston Globe 0% (0) 100% (12) 12
The Wall Street Journal 29% (2) 86% (6) 7
The Financial Times 0% (0) 100% (3) 3
The Guardian 0% (0) 100% (15) 15
The Washington Post 6% (2) 100% (35) 35
The Hill 0% (0) 100% (2) 2
The Los Angeles Times 12% (3) 92% (23) 25
The Philadelphia Inquirer 25% (1) 75% (3) 4
The Christian Science Monitor 0% (0) 100% (12) 12
Roll Call 0% (0) 100% (2) 2
National Journal 0% (0) 100% (5) 5
The Jerusalem Post 0% (0) 100% (5) 5
Total Respondents 56
(skipped this question) 9
13. Magazines you read regularly:
  Print Online Respondents
Total
The Advocate 67% (4) 33% (2) 6
American Rifleman 0% (0) 100% (1) 1
The American Prospect 7% (1) 93% (14) 15
Atlantic Monthly 75% (9) 25% (3) 12
Barrons 100% (1) 0% (0) 1
Business 2.0 0% (0) 0% (0) 0
Business Week 100% (3) 0% (0) 3
Christianity Today 0% (0) 0% (0) 0
Depatures 0% (0) 0% (0) 0
The Economist 60% (3) 40% (2) 5
Editor & Publisher 0% (0) 100% (7) 7
Esquire 100% (2) 0% (0) 2
Forbes 100% (3) 0% (0) 3
Foreign Policy 0% (0) 100% (1) 1
Fortune 100% (1) 0% (0) 1
Guidepost 100% (1) 0% (0) 1
Harpers 75% (9) 33% (4) 12
Harvard Business Review 0% (0) 0% (0) 0
Inc. 100% (2) 0% (0) 2
The Jerusalem report 0% (0) 0% (0) 0
Money 0% (0) 0% (0) 0
Mother Jones 36% (5) 71% (10) 14
National Geographic 79% (11) 21% (3) 14
The Nation 25% (5) 85% (17) 20
National Review 0% (0) 100% (3) 3
New York 0% (0) 100% (2) 2
The New Yorker 70% (16) 35% (8) 23
The New York Review of Books 44% (4) 56% (5) 9
The New Republic 17% (1) 83% (5) 6
New Scientist 0% (0) 100% (2) 2
Newsweek 47% (7) 53% (8) 15
NRA Rifleman 0% (0) 0% (0) 0
Onion 21% (4) 79% (15) 19
Popular Science 100% (2) 0% (0) 2
Reason Magazine 100% (1) 0% (0) 1
Rolling Stone 50% (2) 50% (2) 4
Scientific American 56% (5) 44% (4) 9
The Smithsonian 75% (3) 25% (1) 4
Salon 7% (1) 93% (13) 14
Slate 0% (0) 100% (14) 14
Smart Money 100% (1) 0% (0) 1
Soldier of Fortune 0% (0) 0% (0) 0
Time 45% (5) 55% (6) 11
The Week 67% (2) 33% (1) 3
Time 100% (2) 0% (0) 2
US News & World Reports 0% (0) 0% (0) 0
Utne Reader 100% (5) 0% (0) 5
Vanity Fair 100% (3) 0% (0) 3
The Washington Monthly 23% (3) 77% (10) 13
Weekly Standard 0% (0) 100% (1) 1
Wired 50% (3) 50% (3) 6
Total Respondents 57
(skipped this question) 8
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 19% (10) 15% (8) 54% (28) 10% (5) 2% (1) 52
Television 7% (4) 25% (15) 52% (32) 15% (9) 2% (1) 61
Radio 11% (7) 15% (9) 37% (23) 31% (19) 6% (4) 62
Newspapers (print) 24% (13) 7% (4) 33% (18) 33% (18) 4% (2) 55
Newspapers (online) 7% (4) 2% (1) 34% (20) 36% (21) 21% (12) 58
Magazines (print) 20% (11) 5% (3) 31% (17) 27% (15) 16% (9) 55
Magazines (online) 17% (8) 2% (1) 32% (15) 36% (17) 13% (6) 47
Blogs 2% (1) 2% (1) 10% (6) 33% (21) 54% (34) 63
Forums 44% (18) 20% (8) 10% (4) 24% (10) 2% (1) 41
% of total media consumption
  0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Response
Total
Word of mouth 37% (15) 51% (21) 5% (2) 7% (3) 0% (0) 0% (0) 0% (0) 0% (0) 0% (0) 0% (0) 0% (0) 41
Television 20% (11) 47% (26) 22% (12) 5% (3) 2% (1) 2% (1) 2% (1) 0% (0) 0% (0) 0% (0) 0% (0) 55
Radio 19% (11) 40% (23) 18% (10) 11% (6) 4% (2) 7% (4) 0% (0) 0% (0) 0% (0) 0% (0) 2% (1) 57
Newspapers (print) 28% (13) 40% (19) 17% (8) 6% (3) 4% (2) 2% (1) 0% (0) 0% (0) 2% (1) 0% (0) 0% (0) 47
Newspapers (online) 7% (4) 42% (23) 31% (17) 11% (6) 2% (1) 0% (0) 4% (2) 0% (0) 2% (1) 0% (0) 2% (1) 55
Magazines (print) 28% (13) 46% (21) 15% (7) 7% (3) 0% (0) 2% (1) 0% (0) 0% (0) 2% (1) 0% (0) 0% (0) 46
Magazines (online) 18% (7) 55% (21) 13% (5) 8% (3) 0% (0) 0% (0) 0% (0) 0% (0) 3% (1) 0% (0) 3% (1) 38
Blogs 0% (0) 5% (3) 19% (11) 22% (13) 22% (13) 16% (9) 3% (2) 2% (1) 7% (4) 2% (1) 2% (1) 58
Forums 59% (20) 35% (12) 3% (1) 0% (0) 0% (0) 0% (0) 3% (1) 0% (0) 0% (0) 0% (0) 0% (0) 34
Total Respondents 65
(skipped this question) 0
15. Do you have your own blog?
    Response
Percent		 Response
Total
Yes
23.08% 15
No
76.92% 50
Total Respondents 65
(skipped this question) 0
16. Why do you blog?
    Response
Percent		 Response
Total
To influence public opinion.
46.67% 7
To let off steam.
46.67% 7
For money.
0.00% 0
For fame.
6.67% 1
To meet new people.
20.00% 3
To formulate new ideas.
40.00% 6
To stay in touch with old friends.
33.33% 5
To keep track of my thoughts.
60.00% 9
I'm not sure, but I love it.
20.00% 3
To smite my enemies.
20.00% 3
To praise my friends.
20.00% 3
Other (please specify)
20.00% 3
Total Respondents 15
(skipped this question) 50
17. When did you start blogging?
    Response
Percent		 Response
Total
1998
0.00% 0
1999
0.00% 0
2000
6.67% 1
2001
0.00% 0
2002
20.00% 3
2003
26.67% 4
2004
6.67% 1
2005
40.00% 6
2006
0.00% 0
Total Respondents 15
(skipped this question) 50
18. How many blogs do you read daily?
    Response
Percent		 Response
Total
1
1.54% 1
2
3.08% 2
3
10.77% 7
4
3.08% 2
5
9.23% 6
6
12.31% 8
7
0.00% 0
8
7.69% 5
9
3.08% 2
10
18.46% 12
11-15
12.31% 8
16-25
12.31% 8
26-50
1.54% 1
51-100
3.08% 2
101-200
1.54% 1
200+
0.00% 0
Total Respondents 65
(skipped this question) 0
19. Do you leave comments in other people's blogs?
    Response
Percent		 Response
Total
Yes
57.14% 36
No
42.86% 27
Total Respondents 63
(skipped this question) 2
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% 1
2
1.54% 1
3
3.08% 2
4
1.54% 1
5
7.69% 5
6
3.08% 2
7
4.62% 3
8
12.31% 8
9
0.00% 0
10
21.54% 14
11
4.62% 3
12
1.54% 1
13
0.00% 0
14
4.62% 3
15
6.15% 4
16
1.54% 1
17
3.08% 2
18
1.54% 1
19-24
9.23% 6
24-30
7.69% 5
30-36
0.00% 0
36+
3.08% 2
Total Respondents 65
(skipped this question) 0
21. You read blogs for:
    Response
Percent		 Response
Total
Faster news
76.92% 50
Latest trends
29.23% 19
Transparent biases
36.92% 24
Better perspective
78.46% 51
More personality
32.31% 21
More honesty
61.54% 40
News I can't find elsewhere
84.62% 55
Links
58.46% 38
Humor
41.54% 27
Other (please specify)
9.23% 6
Total Respondents 65
(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
70.00% 42
Occasionally
20.00% 12
Often
8.33% 5
Always
3.33% 2
Total Respondents 60
(skipped this question) 5
25. You listen to how many podcasts each week:
    Response
Percent		 Response
Total
Never
83.87% 52
1
11.29% 7
2
1.61% 1
3
0.00% 0
4
0.00% 0
5
1.61% 1
6
0.00% 0
7
0.00% 0
8
0.00% 0
9
0.00% 0
10
0.00% 0
11-15
0.00% 0
16-25
0.00% 0
>25
1.61% 1
Total Respondents 62
(skipped this question) 3
Aggregate data is published under the Creative Commons Attribution License by Pressflex LLC.