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It’s September, surely the ‘silly season’ has officially ended? Despite Blair’s book being all over the news today, the rest of the news has been dominated by the revealing of the real Stig (not Schumacher after all – yes, I really believed that), rabid speculation over Hague’s alleged homosexual affair (based on no evidence in particular, and should we really care?), and many surveys. In today’s Daily Telegraph, there are no less than four surveys in its news pages (which also cover Blair, the Stig and Hague).
The PR industry is often berated for a perceived overuse of surveys and so it’s interesting to see that they are considered worthwhile by some journalists – front page fodder no less. Naturally the news angle has to be strong and the stats powerful – let’s examine them:
Front page: ‘Happiness begins at 55’. The usual ‘fun’ survey. Is it telling us anything that we didn’t know? I’m not certain, but it certainly contributes to a general perception that Brits spend the majority of their life massively stressed. However, we know not where the respondents are based – are they country or city folk? I suspect the latter.
Page 8: ‘£1 a minute to eat at top restaurants’. What consumers find annoying when dining out. Hardly earth shattering, but a big name brand is behind it which always adds kudos. The country’s ability to be irritated by anything and everything no doubt contributes to general life doom and gloom, as referenced on the front page.
Page 9: ‘Fox attack leaves 1 in 5 afraid of wildlife’. A third of city dwellers now perceive wildlife as ‘dangerous’ rather than ‘harmless’. This is not Australia. With a propensity to be so wimpish it’s unsurprising we’re stressed out as a nation, thereby contributing to general life doom and gloom, as referenced on the front page.
Page 9: ‘Family meal replaced by two dinners’. Parents and children are missing out on valuable family time. No doubt that’s because everyone is so stressed and working overtime, thereby contributing to general life doom and gloom, as referenced on the front page.
Regardless of what real value these surveys bring to our general knowledge, we should be thankful they exist as a news filler – otherwise we’d have piped music (see 1930) or the test card.
