Wartime Diarykeeper Comments

Wartime Diarykeeper Comments

Arbitron diaries are a great source to learn about fast-changing listener habits and attitudes.
Below are scans of comment pages from actual diaries.

Overview

		Only a few of the diaries received for the survey period in which the war in Iraq began referenced the war.

		In the listening section of the diary, only one entry out of approximately 57,825 total entries referenced the war.

		In the "Your Opinion Counts" section (a.k.a "diary comments") of the diary, only 15 diaries of the 3,855 diaries (or 0.4%) returned contained a reference to the war. These references were not specific to any particular station, and primarily addressed slight changes in the radio listening behavior because of the war.

Source: 3,855 diaries received by Arbitron on Monday, March 24, 2003, for the survey week of March 13- 19, 2003.

Diary Sample
"Like Sports radio. Start of Iraq war impacted listening to News radio."

"Towards the end of this week my radio listening became somewhat atypical as the war w/Iraq began. I usually listen to Classical stations, or [XXXX]. My 10-yr.-old daughter prefers easy listening rock. This week I listened to NPR more than usual."

Diary Sample 2
"I really like [XXXX] in the morning and normally listen to them. However, with recent developments, I like the news from NPR. Once the current crisis is over, I will listen to the morning show on [XXXX] like always."

"Because of the ongoing talk of a possible war, I feel that I listened to talk shows more than usual this particular week of the survey."

Response to Dixie Chicks Controversy

A few diary comments specifically related to the controversy surrounding a comment by Natalie Maines
of the Country act the Dixie Chicks.

Diary Sample
"[XXXX] doesn't have more music than [XXXX] because they talk more than [XXXX] but [XXXX] does have a lot of commercials.

"It's weird about the Dixie Chicks. I guess I'll just listen to them if they come on the radio."

"When scanning the FM dial, I usually go through the preset stations first trying to find a good song.

"Changed the station because [XXXX] was playing a Dixie Chicks song. Boycotting this group because of remarks made against Pres. Bush.

"[XXXXXXXX] has an outstanding morning show. I'm surprised [XXXX] hasn't gone under. I find their DJs to be very tactless."

Diary Sample 2
"I think it is communist for any radio station to air any protest of this war we should be in. The Dixie Chicks and Sean Pean [sic] (people of no values like that) should not be allowed to be public. Anyone against this war is proba[b]ly to[o] rich and living in their 'nice little la la world.'"

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