Freedom to Publish Public Opinion Research: The State of the World
Timothy Johnson (University of Illinois at Chicago)
Keywords: News, media, journalism and public opinion
Abstract
Restrictions on the ability to conduct and publish public opinion research remains a worldwide concern. This panel will: (1) report findings from a just-completed joint WAPOR/ESOMAR study designed to provide updated information regarding current governmental restrictions on freedom to publish public opinion research across the globe, and (2) provide commentaries from public opinion experts (still-being-recruited) who will provide perspectives regarding current polling restrictions in Europe, Asia, Latin America and possibly Africa. The latest Freedom to Publish report was fielded between July-October 2017. We collected reports from national informants in a total of 133 nations in Africa (n=26), Asia (n=36), Central America (n=7), Europe (n=42), North America & Caribbean (n=7), Oceania (n=3) and South America (n=12). Presentations and discussion will focus on legal “blackout periods” for reporting public opinion prior to national elections, and restrictions on the conduct and reporting of exit polls after elections. We will also summarize informant reports regarding changes in polling restrictions over the past five years, as well as their expectations regarding future changes in polling restrictions.