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Former New York Times Polling Editor Marjorie Connelly Joins Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research as Senior Fellow

Press Release

4/08/2015, Bethesda, MD—Marjorie Connelly, the former editor of the News Surveys & Election Analysis Desk of The New York Times, has been named senior fellow at the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. While at the Times, Connelly was the leading in-house authority on public opinion data. 

“We are very fortunate to have an expert with Marjorie’s experience join the AP-NORC Center. She has been conducting scientifically rigorous research and preparing it for broad dissemination since 1981,” said Dan Gaylin, president and CEO of NORC at the University of Chicago. “Marjorie has been one of the news industry’s strongest defenders of standards for reporting on polls and research. Her demonstrated commitment to excellence in both journalism and research fits perfectly with the AP-NORC Center’s mandate to bring the best of social science research to news coverage about the most critical issues facing the world today.”

Connelly directed the use of public opinion research for national and international editions of the Times and was responsible for all aspects of the Times’ own polling. She contributed to Pulitzer Prize-winning projects on distracted driving and corporate taxes and led surveys of the victims of the 9/11 attacks and of Hurricane Katrina. She also managed coverage of exit polls for major elections.

“We’re thrilled that Marjorie will be bringing her significant polling expertise to contribute to the important work of the AP-NORC Center,” said Sally Buzbee, AP Washington bureau chief. “Along with her exemplary methodological credentials, Marjorie also brings valuable news expertise to the AP-NORC Center team,” said Trevor Tompson, a vice president at NORC and the director of the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Tompson noted that, “Connelly is uniquely qualified to help the AP-NORC Center’s work become ever more useful and relevant to journalists and policymakers.”

Connelly has been active in the research community, including as a member of the executive council of the American Association for Public Opinion Research and as a past president of the group’s New York chapter. She was a contributing writer for the Encyclopedia of Survey Research Methods.

A native of New York City, Marjorie Connelly joined The New York Times in 1981. While a student at New York University, she began her career as an interviewer on the Times/CBS News polls.

“We are very fortunate to have an expert with Marjorie’s experience join the AP-NORC Center. She has been conducting scientifically rigorous research and preparing it for broad dissemination since 1981.”

Dan Gaylin

President and CEO

“We are very fortunate to have an expert with Marjorie’s experience join the AP-NORC Center. She has been conducting scientifically rigorous research and preparing it for broad dissemination since 1981.”


About NORC at the University of Chicago

NORC at the University of Chicago conducts research and analysis that decision-makers trust. As a nonpartisan research organization and a pioneer in measuring and understanding the world, we have studied almost every aspect of the human experience and every major news event for more than eight decades. Today, we partner with government, corporate, and nonprofit clients around the world to provide the objectivity and expertise necessary to inform the critical decisions facing society.

www.norc.org

Contact: For more information, please contact Eric Young at NORC at young-eric@norc.org or (703) 217-6814 (cell).