Internet Exercises

1. Visit the Omaha World Herald site listed below and find an article that allows users to add their ideas. What impact does this feature have on how readers understand the story? Do you think this feature is a positive or negative aspect of online reporting?

http://www.omaha.com/

2. Explore the U.S. Census Bureau homepage. The site contains a great deal of demographic information about the U.S. Choose the "State Profiles" section and locate demographic, social, economic, and/or housing data for your state or a state of your choosing. What information surprised you about this state? How might knowing this information help you to sell a Ford Explorer to people who live in your state? How might knowing this information help you to recruit students from this state to your college or university?

http://www.census.gov/

3. Persuaders regularly engage in audience analysis. Read the information contained on the sites below to learn more about conducting audience analysis.

http://gallup.com/poll/faq/faq000101.asp

http://www.statpac.com/surveys/index.htm

http://members.tripod.com/frede_dast/conseil1_a.html

http://www.mapnp.org/library/evaluatn/focusgrp.htm