Summary of Results: "Podcasting & New Media Community - Industry and User Survey"

Below is a summary of survey results, compiled by Lee Gibbons of Podango. Full Results are available on SurveyMethods at this url:

http://www.surveymethods.com/Publish.aspx?boP7hk2Yb%2fY%3d

1 & 2. The results reflect a total of 91 complete responses to the survey.
An additional 61 respondents began the survey, but did not complete it. (Note that some of the respondents who failed to complete the survey on a first attempt did return to complete a separate instance to contribute to the 91 complete responses.) 2 respondents chose not to participate at all.

3. Strong Consensus on Need for Association.
- Over 80% of all respondents agree or strongly agree with the statement, "The podcasting and new media industry needs an organization to unite the voices and align the efforts of new media publishers."  (12% are neutral, Less than 4% disagree or strongly disagree)

4 & 5. Strong Consensus on Need for Openness in Organizing Practices.
-  Over 84% agree or strongly agree that, "An organization serving the podcasting and new media communities should embrace “web 2.0” ideologies of openness, community involvement, and maximized individual contribution as it forms and operates." (14% are neutral).
- Over 90% agree or strongly agree with the statement, "All community members should be empowered to openly participate in offering suggestions, debating issues, and voting to resolve conflicts related to the founding of an industry association."
- About 64% agree or strongly agree that, "During the evolution of an industry association, "Founding Members" should include all who join the association within 30 days after the association opened for enrollment."  (24% are neutral. Only 11% disagree or strongly disagree.)
- Over 75% agree or strongly agree that, "Industry association meetings should be open forums, and the essence of conversations related to association matters occurring between elected members and/or committee participants should be made public." (about 12% are neutral. Only 4% disagree or strongly disagree.

6a, 6b. Relatively high consensus and neutrality regarding sponsorship v. pure membership:
- Over 40% agree or strongly agree with the statement, "The association should reduce its annual dues and be sponsor driven."  
- 31% are neutral. 28% either disagree or strongly disagree with the statement.
Yet, 71% agree or strongly agree with the statement, "Companies that serve the podcasting and new media communities should be invited to sponsor the association, its events, and specific services it offers." (only 16% neutral, and about 13% disagree or strongly disagree.)
So, perhaps the difference suggest that membership dues are still viewed as a legitimate funding mechanism, supplemented by sponsorships.

6c. Strong support for public disclosure of financial facts:
- Almost 90% agree or strongly agree with the statement regarding public disclosure: "All financial expenditures and appropriations by the association should be publicly disclosed."
6c, and 6g. High consensus on disclosure related statements:
- Over 90 % agree or strongly agree with the statement about full annual disclosure of expenditures: "A full disclosure of all financial expenditures should be made public to association members annually."

6d, 6e. Strong consensus against having association money go to association leadership.
- 54% agree or strongly agree that, "No founding member or sitting officer or committee member of the association may receive payment in money or in-kind for services rendered to the industry association."
- Similarly, about 64% agree or strongly agree that, "No family member or domestic partner of any founding member or sitting officer or committee member of the association may receive payment in money or in kind for services rendered to the association."

6f. Strong consensus for code of conduct.
- Almost 90% agree or strongly agree with the statement, "A full code of conduct should be established to govern and limit gifts and financial contributions to the association and its governing members."  (9% were neutral, leaving only 2% who disagree or strongly disagree.)

7. Regarding the ADM's proposed membership fees:
- 63% feel $150.00 per year is too much money.
- 36% feel $150.00 per year is about right.
- 1% feel $150.00 per year is too cheap.

8. Over half (51%) of respondents feel that the Corporate membership fee is "too much money."
- 41% feel it is about right.
- 8% feel it is too cheap.

9a. Relative neutrality regarding whether the initial group of organizers should be called Founding Members or Informal Steering Committee:
- 46% indicate that they are neutral.
- 40% agree or strongly agree with the statement, "The “Founding Member” designation of the current members of the ADM should be changed to 'Informal Steering Committee.'"

9b. Agreement regarding role of initial organizers in administrative roles.
Nearly half (48%) of respondents agree or strongly agree with the notion that, "After initially founding the organization, steering committee members should be ineligible to run for top leadership offices within the association for one year, eliminating the possibility of forming the association and seeking personal benefit."
- 25% disagree or strongly disagree with the statement.
- 27% are neutral

10a & 10b. Regarding Naming Issue:
- 85% agree or strongly agree the name is important: "The organization's name is important as it informs mission, purpose, and scope. Regarding the Name of the Association."
- 68% agree or strongly agree that, "Association members should have a voice in the selection of the name of the ADM, rather than having it declared by the initial organizing group." (26% are neutral. 5% disagree, and 1% strongly disagree.)

10c, 10d, 10e, 10f, 10g. Positive statements regarding the name, Association for Downloadable Media, regarding scope, membership attraction, and long-term viability, have varying agreement levels:
- 54% agree (40%) or strongly agree (14%) the name is sufficiently broad in scope to focus on industry's key issues. (20% are neutral, 17% disagree, and 9% strongly disagree.)
- Yet, only 31% either agree (24%) or strongly agree (7%) the name will attract the right people to join. (37% are neutral, 25% disagree, and 8% strongly disagree.)
- And, only 27% either agree (22%) or strongly agree (5%) the name will endure technological and market force changes. (32% are neutral, 30% disagree, and 11% strongly disagree, which is the highest degree of strong disagreement regarding positive name statements.)
- Less than half (42%) either agree (34%) or strongly agree (8%) the ADM name and mission statement match well. (35%, are neutral, 17% disagree, and  6% strongly disagree.)

10h & 10i. Relatively strong consensus regarding the name's acronym:
- 60% of respondents either agree (39%) or strongly agree (21%) the acronym of the name matters to the success of the organization. (28% are neutral, 10% disagree, and 2% strongly disagree.)
- 52% of respondents either agree (30%) or strongly agree (22%) that the URL for the association web site should be the acronym. (36% are neutral, 11% disagree, 1% strongly disagree).
 
11. The top 5 vote getting names were:
APOMP
Association of Podcasters and Online Media Publishers
61 points

INMPA
International New Media Publishers Association
60 points

IANMP
International Association of New Media Publishers
54.5 points

IOMPA
International Online Media Publishers Association
45 points

OOMP
Organization for Online Media Publishers
42.5 points


12. 35% prefer the name Association for Downloadable Media to the other names presented.

13. Other naming ideas and suggestions for names include, in alphabetical order:
•    Idea: “substitute 'electronic media' for 'new media'? (since how long is 'new' new?)”
•    AAMP - Association of All Media Producers
•    ABP - Association of Podcasters and Bloggers
•    AOCC - Association of Online Content Creators
•    ANM - Association of New Media
•    ANMP - Association for New Media Publishers (Suggested by 4 respondents)
•    ANMP - Association for New Media Producers
•    AOMP - Association of Online Media Publishers
•    AVPA - Audio and Video Publishers Association
•    DMA - Downloadable Media Association
•    DMPF.NET - Digital Media Publishers Foundation
•    GANMP - Global Association of New Media Producers
•    IADMPP - International Association of Digital Media Producers and Publishers
•    IDMPA.COM (International Digital Media Publishers IPBA  - International Podcast and Blogger Association
•    IMPA - Internet Media Publishers Association
•    NMPA - New Media Publishers Association* (Suggested by 3 respondents)
•    MMPA - Modern Media Producers Association
•    NMPA - New Media Producers Association
•    ODMF.ORG - Open Digital Media Foundation
•    OMPA - Online Media Publishers Association*
•    SMA – Social Media Association
•    POOP - Publishers Of Online Programming (just kidding) **

* The acronym URL would have to be purchased from its current owner. It is not available for registration.
** Included ‘cause you just have to love a sense of humor!

14. Strong consensus that the survey is viewed as helpful:
- 74% of respondents either agree (55%) or strongly agree (19%) with the statement, "This survey will enable the industry to have a richer conversation about the formation of the ADM or a new industry association representing the podcasting and new media communities." (20% are neutral, 0% disagree, 5% strongly disagree. Note that 80% of those that strongly disagree prefer the name ADM over all others.)
- 88% of respondents either agree (52%) or strongly agree (36%) with the statement, "Creating this survey was a good idea. An industry association should regularly seek input from its communities of interest." (8% are neutral. 2% disagree. 2% strongly disagree.)
- Only 7% of respondents either agree (6%) or strongly agree (1%) with the negative statement regarding the survey, "Creating the survey was a bad idea. It will only serve to divide the community."