Minnesota Public Radio News and The Humphrey Institute to Partner on Political Polling and New Fact-Checking Feature, PoliGraph

May 18, 2010

(St. Paul, Minn.) May 18, 2010--Minnesota Public Radio and the University of Minnesota's Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs announced a joint 2010 Election-Season project today that will offer fresh insight into voters' perspectives and claims by politicians.

In four installments starting Wednesday, May 19, 2010, and leading to Election Day, MPR News will exclusively report the results of broad ranging surveys that go beyond "horse race" political polling. Political scientists at the Humphrey Institute are working with MPR News reporters to design surveys that provide much-needed context and explain the attitudes and preferences of Minnesota voters regarding the political system, parties and choices they have in front of them.

"The MPR News and Humphrey Institute surveys will track who's ahead and why, revealing the often overlooked forces driving the 2010 elections," said Professor Larry Jacobs at the Humphrey Institute.

In addition, the two organizations will regularly produce a political fact-checking feature called PoliGraph, which will be published in the political blogs of MPR NewsQ and the Humphrey Institute. The feature will report on the veracity of political candidates' and public officials' statements by labeling them true, false or inconclusive based on data analysis, document reviews and interviews with non-partisan analysts.

"Technology and media are allowing politicians much more exposure to voters and they're taking full advantage," said Chris Worthington, MPR News' managing director. "The result is a high rate of claims and counter-claims, leaving voters not knowing what or whom to believe. The PoliGraph team will methodically analyze a politician's statement and determine whether it's true."