HKU POP SITE releases the Circular to News Media about American Presidential Election ReportingBack

 
Press Release on November 3, 2008

The USA presidential election day is fast approaching, Hong Kong media are beginning to spend tremendous resources on reporting the election. The Director of Public Opinion Programme Robert Chung at the University of Hong Kong seizes this opportunity to remind local journalists of the following aspects of the election, which can generate ideas and experience for local discussions:
  1. How do the American media conduct and use exit polls? When do they get hold of the data? When do they release their forecasts?

  2. How do the American media balance between the freedom of information and fair election? How do they hand problems arising from time zone differences? Does the announcement of early voting survey results before the day of election affect the fairness of the election?

  3. There is no legal restriction in America to regulate exit polls, how can the American media conduct their exit poll responsibly and systematically? Why do candidates and political parties not use exit polls for election engineering?