A handbook of poll surveys in media: an Indian perspective/ N Bhaskara Rao

1. Poll Surveys: The Indian Scene: Public Opinion and Surveys : Concerns in early: Surveys : Media s concern with polls : The 1970s: Curiosity more : The 1980s : Psephological exercise: The 1990s: Competitive compulsions : The 2000s: Surveys to sway voters? : Poll surveys : Changing: Electoral Scene:

2. Media Coverage of Elections: Poll Surveys: Compulsions of news media in poll surveys : More a: Business Opportunity!: Glut in Poll Coverage: More: is not merrier!: More Media, less voter turnout! ?: Pre-emptive coverage of news media: Ripple effect: ofmedia coverage: Domino effects ofmedia coverage: Manipulation with poll surveys: "Should poll surveys: be covered in between a poll schedule?": More of the: same CONTENTS:- : Poll Surveys and Media Advertising: 11: 15: 19: 21: 29: 55: 8 A Handbook of Poll Surveys in Media : An Indian Perspective: Insights from media coverage of polls : Trivialized: poll coverage: 2009 polls : Predictions and Results:

3. Anatomy of Poll Surveys: What is a survey?: Market surveys and poll surveys: A sample "Survey" should be known by:: Sample: Size:: Limitations of sample surveys:: Who sponsors: surveys?: Who does a survey? What is psephology?: Interpreting poll surveys : Reliability of sample: surveys:: How seats are estimated? : Factors that go: into forecast models::

4. Role of Surveys: Introduction : What role do surveys play? : What: difference surveys make?: Do poll surveys make a: difference?: Do they influence the outcome? : Whose: interests poll surveys cater to? : Election Commission s: concerns : Poll surveys empower voters?: Poll surveys: are here to stay!: Why media coverage of poll surveys: be viewed differently ? : Readers Interest in Poll: Surveys in Media : Surveys syndrome:

5. Exit polls: Relevance of Exit Polls : Exit poll, not an exact poll!: How reliable are exit polls?: Exit polls going wrong: yet again!: Why efforts to restrain poll surveys? : Should media coverage of poll surveys be restrained?: Is Election Commission s restriction futile?:

6. Elusiveness of Public Opinion and Illusion of Poll: Surveys: Elusive Opinions : Illusion of poll surveys : Sampling: more is not merrier : Questionnaire: Sanctity of: Surveys in Peoples Perceptions: Analysis of responses: Presentation of survey data. : Who are the field: CONTENTS:- 9: investigators?: Responsibility and accountability : Transparency in Conducting Surveys:: Conflict of: interest!: Precaution needed: New Trend in 2009:

7. Polling Agencies, Psephologists and Analysts: News Media taking to surveys : Polling Agencies : Psephologists : Use and Misuse of poll surveys : Recycling or reuse of surveys?:

8. Slogans to Schemes to Surveys: Populist Schemes : The incumbency advantage? : Blurred differences between the Government and the: party : Margin of wins and transferability of votes : Voter turnout : Number of candidates in contest. : Loyalty to parties : TrackingModel:: "Note for votes": Winnability surveys : CMS Model for Candidate: Selection: Political advertising: Back to basics:

9. Is there a Rethink about Poll Surveys?: Poll surveys, their use by media : Reuters snapshot: survey : The Times of India: Star News Neilson: Survey : NTV model : Mint Model : Saakshi Model : Political parties : e-surveys by 2014