My Shocking Exposé of Bias in Soap Media Polling: Part One

I am no Woodward and Bernstein. Heck, I am not even Geraldo Rivera’s belly lint, but Spin’s Vixenella knows agenda-driven media bias when it splatters in her face. What is Spin’s Vixenella ranting about now? The soap industry “press,” a multi-billion dollar a year business with numerous publications dedicated to covering all things soap opera. Are any of them more than a propaganda arm for the networks? Today, Spin’s Vixenella is not so sure, and she wants some answers.

Nearly two decades ago, Spin’s Vixenella made Soap Opera Digest (SOD) her soap magazine of choice and has long maintained a subscription. SOD always appeared to have the most reliable, timely soap news coupled with some hard-hitting opinion pieces, and periodically a few serious features aimed at analyzing soaps and their societal impact.

As it turns out, the online versions of SOD and Soap Opera Weekly (SOW) are owned by the same media conglomerate, Source Interlink Media, LLC. The two magazines share an interactive website where soap fans are encouraged to actively provide their thoughts and opinions by participating in polls and posting comments. Naturally, all this fan participation brings visitors daily to their website, increasing their ad revenue, filling their corporate coffers, etc.

On June 10, 2008, Spin’s Vixenella stumbled upon a SOD/SOW online instant poll asking "Who Is The Right Man for General Hospital’s Maxie?” Firmly convinced Damien Spinelli is the only “right” choice for Miss Maxie Jones, The Vixenella was naturally intrigued and took a closer look at the poll. At once, both shocked and appalled, Spin’s Vixenella questioned the poll’s construct and its biased “choices.” You guessed it, before daybreak on June 11, the tireless Vixenella fired off an email to the SOD/SOW Online Editor.

Dear SOD/SOW Online Editor:

I am a long-time subscriber to SOD magazine. As a General Hospital fan, I am confused and offended by your online instant “Snap Poll” asking "Who Is The Right Man for Maxie?"

Continued on the next page Page 1 — Page 2 — Page 3

Article Author: Spin's Vixenella

By day, Spin’s Vixenella is a mild-mannered,semi-retired college professor, but the rest of the time, she is a 40+ year soap fan who enjoys ranting and raving.

Visit Spin's Vixenella's author page — Spin's Vixenella's Blog