Why is an opinion poll newsworthy?
We know that opinion polls have a fairly generous margin for error, and that rogue results come around all the time. Without knowing the full methodology -- choice and phrasing of questions, demographic profile of those polled etc -- it is difficult to understand the use and purpose of the polls. Taken at this stage of a parliamentary term, where the House of Representatives is pretty stable, something like this looks like mischief.
These things only matter if policy is truly made in the press office, or by hacks in the back room whose job is all about 'winning' a day's media cycle.
The media has become "lamestream" by virtue of putting itself up as a player in the political process. Granted, we don't accept the authority of the commentator quite so readily as 30 years ago. But one gets the niggling feeling that making news out of opinion polls is more about staying in the game than really trying to make any sense of it.
Sitting down for coffee this morning, I saw today's headlines and opened my book instead. My coffee tasted better as a result.
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