Moving Wall visit ranks high among web site readers

Monday, January 5, 2009
By John I. Carney

Participants in a non-scientific web site poll agreed with Times-Gazette staff members that the closure of the Sanford, Summit and Aleris manufacturing facilities was the most newsworthy story of 2008.

After that, however, there were some differences in the rankings. The second-biggest story according to web site readers was the visit of The Moving Wall, a replica of the Vietnam War Memorial. T-G staffers had ranked that story ninth.

Readers' third-biggest story was the Tyson Foods / Eid al-Fitr controversy, which the Times-Gazette staff poll ranked second.

A total of 356 web site readers participated in the poll, which included 15 story choices plus a choice for "other." Because of the limitations of our web survey software, participants chose only their top story from the list. That differed from the Times-Gazette staff poll, which asked participants to rank their top 10 choices.

The biggest difference between the two polls -- eight places -- was the story about Middle Tennessee State University seeking to open a satellite location in Shelbyville. Readers ranked it in a tie for 7th place; the T-G staff ranked it 15th.

News and sports polls are conducted regularly at the Times-Gazette web site. Web site polls are considered non-scientific because there is no way to guarantee that the people who choose to participate represent a true cross-section of the public.

READER POLL RESULTS

What do you feel was the most-newsworthy local story of 2008?

1) Sanford, Summit, Aleris close manufacturing plants: 25.0 percent, 89 votes (1st place by T-G staff)

2) The Moving Wall visits Shelbyville: 12.6 percent, 45 votes (9th place by T-G staff)

3) Tyson gives Eid al-Fitr as paid holiday: 11.5 percent, 41 votes (2nd place by T-G staff)

4) Obama wins, but McCain carries Bedford and Tennessee: 7.6 percent, 27 votes (8th place by T-G staff)

5) School dress code enacted: 6.7 percent, 24 votes (3rd place by T-G staff)

6) Edward McGee charged in 42-year-old murder case: 6.2 percent, 22 votes (5th place by T-G staff)

7-tie) MTSU plans satellite location in Shelbyville: 5.6 percent, 20 votes (15th place by T-G staff)

7-tie) Heritage Medical Center opens in Airport Industrial Park: 5.6 percent, 20 votes (4th place by T-G staff)

9) Foster mothers charged with inappropriate relations with child: 3.9 percent, 14 votes (12th place by T-G staff)

10) Raid on high-stakes local poker room: 3.7 percent, 13 votes (7th place by T-G staff)

11) Ashley Cook found guilty in Ross murder case: 3.4 percent, 12 votes (13th place by T-G staff)

12) Other: 2.5 percent (9 votes)

13-tie) Doyle Meadows hired as Celebration CEO: 1.7 percent, 6 votes (11th place by T-G staff)

13-tie) Admissions suspended at Bedford County Nursing Home: 1.7 percent, 6 votes (6th place by T-G staff)

15) Tornado strikes eastern county: 1.4 percent, 5 votes (10th place by T-G staff)

16) Cobb, Tracy retain legislative seats: 0.8 percent, 3 votes (14th place by T-G staff)