Who Are You? (BlueOregon Reader Survey)

blueoregon admin

This fall, we asked BlueOregon readers to participate in a survey to find out a little bit about who you are and how you use the site.  Because we didn't survey a random sample of you--you self-selected yourselves--the results are not scientific, but they are fascinating.   In all, 342 of you took the survey, which is a relatively small proportion of the 3,000+ visits (6,000+ page views) we get on an average day, but still a sizeable sample.  Thanks much to those of you who took the time to fill it out--in addition to the demographics, you gave insightful and useful advice about how to improve the site. 

Highlights are immediately below, and complete results are available below the break.

• BlueOregon has a statewide readership, and only slightly more than half of us (53%) are from Portland.
• We are somewhat more male (62%) but fairly evenly distributed by age (24% under thirty, 41% between 31-55, 35% over 56).
• Household incomes are higher than average, with 56% earning $60,000 or more (the US median income--half are higher, half are lower--is $46,326).
• 98% of eligible respondents are registered to vote, 84% of us vote in every election, and another 11% vote in all primary and general elections (two percent proudly don't vote at all).
• Nearly half (48%) describe ourselves as "strongly liberal/progressive" and another 39% are "moderate to liberal/progressive."
• Just over a third are (38%) are "true blue Democrats" but 19% say "down with the two-party system; bring on third parties!"
• Readers are overwhelmingly engaged in the political process, from contacting our political representatives (90%) to giving money to a campaign or organization (88%) to volunteering for a campaign or organization (77%).
• It's also a politically involved readership, with 51% having served on a government committee or commission, 45% having worked for a campaign, 20% having worked as a political staffer.  In fact, 22% have run for office, and 14% have been elected.

Full details follow.

Reader Demographics

• Male or female? 62% male, 38% female.
• Age?
• 10% under 24
• 26% are 25-35
• 20% are 36-45
• 22% are 46-55
• 16% are 56-65
• 6% are over 65
• Household income?
  
  • 13% under $20k
  • 20% $20k - $45k
  • 12% $46k - $60k
  • 26% $61k - $90k
  • 14% $91k - $120k
  • 16% are over 120k

• Do you live in Oregon?
  • 85% yes, for years.
  • 9% yes, recent arrival.
  • 4% no, but used to live in Oregon.
  • 1% don't live in Oregon.

• Education?
  • 22% have not yet graduated college
  • 31% have a college degree
  • 13% have some grad school
  • 34% have a graduate degree.

• Registered to vote? 97% of respondents said "yes", 1.5% said "no", and 1.5% said they're not eligible.
• How often do you vote?
  • 84% say they "vote in every single election, even the little weird ones."
  • 11% vote in the major primary and general elections.
  • 2% vote in November every two years.
  • 2% don't vote.

• Describe your political ideology
  • 48% say "strongly liberal/progressive".
  • 39% say they're "moderate to liberal/progressive."
  • 6% say they're a "middle-of-the-road moderate."
  • 4% say they're "moderate to conservative"
  • 2% say they're "strongly conservative."

• Are you a partisan?
  • 38% I'm a true blue Democrat; power to the party.
  • 33% I mostly like the Democrats, but occasionally go astray.
  • 7% I could go either way, it all depends.
  • 2% I mostly like the Republicans, but occasionally go astray.
  • 2% I'm a grand old party Republican; power to the party.
  • 19% Down with the two-party system. Bring on third parties!

• Political activities
  • 90% have talked politics with someone they didn't know
  • 90% have contacted an elected official about their opinion
  • 88% have given money to a political campaign or organization
  • 77% have volunteered for a political campaign or organization
  • 72% have sent a letter or editorial to a newspaper

• Political jobs/service
  • 51% have served on a government committee or commission
  • 45% have worked full-time on a political campaign
  • 36% have worked full-time for an advocacy organization
  • 33% have worked as a reporter/editor
  • 20% have worked full-time as staff to an elected official
  • 14% have worked as a lobbyist
  • 22% have been a candidate for elected office
  • 14% have been elected to office

Media Consumption

• Own blog?
  
  • 11% yes, but it's not political
  • 12% yes, and it's political
  • 39% nope, but maybe someday
  • 33% nope, and I never will
• Favorite local blogs (occasionally or regularly read)
  • 35% Furious Nads
  • 48% Jack Bog's Blog
  • 26% LeftyBlogs Oregon
  • 68% Loaded Orygun
  • 34% Onward Oregon
  • 41% Oregon House Dems
  • 29% Oregon Media Insiders
  • 28% NW Republican (fave righty blog)

• Favorite national blogs (read regularly)
  • 38% Daily Kos
  • 29% Crooks and Liars
  • 23% Talking Points Memo
  • 22% Atrios/Eschaton
  • 17% MyDD

• Regularly read/watch/listen
  
  • 67% Oregonian
  • 54% Willamette Week
  • 40% Air America
  • 35% Portland Tribune
  • 35% Local paper (not Oregonian)
  • 33% Thom Hartmann show
  • 23% KGW-TV news (16% KATU, 11% KOIN)

About BlueOregon

We asked several questions about how you use BlueOregon and which features you like best and least.  We will take those results and try to fine-tune the site.  In addition, we threw out a few open-ended questions and asked what you thought.  While it's not worth reprinting hundreds of responses, some themes did emerge.

What do you like best about BlueOregon?

• Conversation.  Many of you cited the depth of discussion that is possible in the comment threads. " Local people mixing it up."  "Comment threads are often worth reading all the way through."   "Intelligent discussion of issues and different points of view."
• Open-mindedness.  Despite the fact that it's a partisan blog, many of you cited the transparency of writers and commenters.  "Generally open and civil discussion."  "You allow right-wingers to comment and engage in dialogue." "Good commentary that strays away from loaded, reactionary language."
  
• Inside info by knowledgeable writers. "Breaking news. The inside story on some scandalettes."  "Reading political opinion from the people making it happen." "Commentary on below-the-radar races that get little mainstream press coverage (state legislature in particular)."

What do you like least about BlueOregon?

• Trolls and anonymous commenters.  The biggest complaint by far is with commenters who try to stifle discussion rather than participate--a third of all commenters touched on this point.  "The bashing, negative, cartoon comments."  "People feed the trolls!  One jerk can still hijack an entire conversation."  "Ad hominem attacks from anonymous [commenters]."
• Lack of diversity.  Although many praised BlueOregon for the diversity of opinion, others noted the homogeneity of the writers.  "You can see the white, liberal, middle to upper class bleeding through."  "Too many whities."  "Not much socio-economic diversity."  "There are so few women represented in both the columns and the comments."
• Too lefty/party-focused/insidery.  While the majority appreciate BlueOregon's insidery orientation, for others it can grow tedious.  "Largely lock-step DP [Democratic Party] line." "Get's a little inside baseball for my liking."  "I wish it were less "Dems are the best" and had a bit more of a populist-green independent, maverick (dare-I-say, Oregonian!) bent."  It's worth noting that a minority of respondents also dinged BlueOregon for not being lefty enough.

What features should we add to BlueOregon?

This was one of the richest sections of the survey, and responses demonstrate exactly why BlueOregon is such a good site--readers are smart and have great ideas.  Below is a sampling of some of the ideas.

• User registration.  A number of respondents urged us to tackle the trollish commenter problem.  A minority of people, however, urge us to keep the comments open and anonymous to encourage candor.
• Podcasts
• Interactive community format. Readers of Daily Kos and MyDD like the interactivity and "bottom up" structure of those sites.
• Calendar of local political events
• Right-wing watch pages.  Several readers would like to be able to track what local Republicans are up to. 
• Polls. 
• Media alerts.  Links to good stories from around the state, "such as James Sinks from the Bend Bulletin." Others would like to see information categorized by region or topic.

By blueoregon admin Oct. 20, 2006