Blogging and a slew of social media sites, it has been said, have somehow revolutionized the way we do politics. Some think that this ‘new media’ is slowly challenging, if not fast eclipsing the credibility, accuracy, relevance and timely news delivery of mainstream media.

Photo by underminingme

Some are even quick to conclude that the general social activity and everything else relative to it have already migrated online, and with it the ‘political market’. Hence, much of the effort concerning social and political activism and propaganda must be directed online. After all, everyone must be reading political blogs and blog readers follow like herded sheep where the blogger takes them, right? Wrong.

I think that’s a rather hasty assumption. Coming from someone who regularly consumes news published online and who blogs about ‘some’ politics, and reads ‘more’ politics, I suppose this is an opinion I share with quite a few bloggers. In fact, this article written for the UK audience which says “Social media will not be integral to 2010 elections”, rings true for the Philippines as well.

We all want to know, especially us doing opinion-blogging who some say, are ‘reactionary’: Is blogging self-serving? Is it nothing more than an ‘open’ journal which is of little or no value at all to the general public? If it cannot influence or inform, then is it merely a ‘political sideshow’ no better than poor entertainment — a political distraction?

As far as I know, no study has yet concluded that political blogging creates such a dent in our politics. Sure, there have been occasions when stories that came out of mainstream media where lifted from blogs. But that’s hardly an evidence of such ‘new media’ influence.

There is some level of influence, of course, but not ‘powerful’ enough to, say, make people ‘buy’ a flawed product or a ‘flawed’ political candidate.

We who blog about politics often wonder whether we actually generate influence on the overrated ‘voting’ population. Are these words of ours gone with the wind at first contact? Do a significant number of people actually read through long and boring posts like this?

And if there are actually a significant number of readers, how do they ‘act’ after reading the blog? Do they automatically have a ‘Eureka!’ moment and say, I shall do as this blogger says! Or I shall vote as this blogger says!? Hardly, I think.

How we wish there was a way to gauge reader participation and influence! Just so we’ll know if that post we’ve had sleepless nights crafting actually made a difference.

Well now, there is a way to find out.

Dear all casual, accidental and regular readers of “A Day in the Life of RJ”, if you’d be so kind to indulge an acquaintance, may I ask you to consider participating in this political blog readers survey to be administered through email by Ms. Grace Mirandilla of SIRCA. If you read political blogs, not necessarily this blog, you may want to participate in this survey.

If you have time to spare, I encourage you to coordinate with her (contact details below) and make your thoughts count.

You know how it is in statistics, the higher the sampling size, the more accurate it gets. The results of this survey is relevant to the times and is valuable to all of us, not just the blogging community. So your help in this project would be much appreciated.

Currently, the most convenient way of administering the survey is through email since there seems to be a formatting issue when it comes to transferring the formatted text from one word application to HTML format and vice versa.

I understand that many of you may have an automatic aversion to answering surveys and giving out your email addresses to strangers, this is perfectly normal. However, I have the assurance of Ms. Mirandilla that your emails and responses will be treated with utmost confidentiality.

I will coordinate with Ms. Mirandilla if we could work out a more efficient and convenient way of doing the survey, ie., possibly hosting it online. I will update you of developments.

What follows is the “Call for Survey Respondents” Facebook note from Ms. Mirandilla republished here in full, with her permission.

*****

A Call for Survey Respondents: Filipino Blogging and Political Participation Study

Good day! Do you read political blogs*? Can you spare 10 mins. to answer a survey? Then, please read on.

My name is Mary Grace P. Mirandilla, an independent researcher conducting a study on “blogging and political participation among Filipinos,” which is funded by the SIRCA ** grant program of IDRC*** Canada. This research wants to look at (1) why Filipinos read political blogs; (2) how they participate in politics–both online and in the real world; and (3) whether and how political blogs affect their participation.

I’m looking for respondents to answer a survey that inquires about these research questions. If you want to participate, you must be Filipino, at least 18 yrs old, and read political blogs (or have read them at some point during the past year). It only takes 10-12 minutes to answer the survey, which will be administered via email.

If interested, please send me a PM or email me at mg(dot)mirandilla(at)gmail(dot)com. Rest assured that your identity and response will be kept confidential.

I hope to hear from you by April 15. Thank you very much.

Regards,
Grace Mirandilla

—
Principal Investigator
Filipino Blogging and Political Participation Study
SIRCA Program – IDRC Canada
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Notes:
* Political blogs here are defined as online diary/journals that generally/often talk about Philippine politics and public affairs.
** Strengthening ICT Research Capacity in Asia (SIRCA)
*** International Development Research Centre (IDRC)

We hope to hear from you soon — preferably not later than April 15. I will be meeting up with Ms. Mirandilla on April 17 and your inputs would definitely help in her research. If you read through the whole post, please know that I admire your patience.