This practice confirms for outsiders that the press is elitist, thin-skinned and unwilling to listen to complaints. Editors and news directors should be willing to defend their own numbers by opening their polling methodology to criticism. They should also listen to genuine criticisms of the press revealed through legitimate polls conducted by other organizations. Albert Gollin, formerly vice president and director for research and marketing services at the Newspaper Association of America, advises local news organizations to plan carefully before publishing polls. This is no field for novices.
Reporters can wind up with only egg on their faces, but a newspaper's credibility is on the line.
It's All Over Dole still looked weak coming out of Arizona. Forbes was back in the picture again to scramble things a bit. Then suddenly, the race made a dramatic turnaround. Republican voters rallied around Dole in spectacular fashion. This effectively and finally killed all previous media speculation about the possibility of a brokered GOP convention in San Diego, even though neither party's convention has gone beyond the first ballot since 1952.