Comments on: How exaggerating protest numbers could backfire on students

By: Alex H

Alex H — Sun, 26 Aug 2012 03:17:37 +0000

Let me point to this:

http://tvanouvelles.ca/lcn/infos/regional/montreal/archives/2012/08/20120825-222910.html

Why would they bother to give coverage to 40 people, if it wasn't against Charest? This story was TOP of the tvanouvelles site for a while, and then in the second row "larger" image feature story position. It's 40 people. Not even enough to fill a single city bus. You get more people out to watch a little league baseball game. Why is this a major story, unless you have an agenda to push?

By: Alex H

Alex H — Sat, 25 Aug 2012 04:30:52 +0000

Actually, I can confirm 100% that my ex-neighbor, a younger dock worker at the port of Montreal, was encouraged by his union to appear at these nightly protests whenever possible. The particularly large May event was packed full of union members and other non-student types looking to rally against the government and hopefully get a more union friendly government in, like the PQ, who would literally bend over backwards to make the unions happy. I am not clear if the unions were paying "strike pay" type benefits for people appearing, but it was clearly organized. Oh, and they were apparently told NOT to appear as union members with their local or union badges showing, but to appear in student garb, possibly with a back pack or other similar student look items. It's amusing, thankfully I no longer have to deal with that crap.

By: Fagstein

Fagstein — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 16:15:55 +0000

I have a feeling that many of these so called student marches were really just the usual collection of professional protesters, union members paid to attend, and others who just felt it fun to bang pots and be noisy.

I really doubt there are 10,000 of these people in the Montreal area. I've seen no evidence that anyone (except the cops and journalists) were paid to attend these protests, and union activity has been quite low. Unions do show up to protests, but their presence is obvious because they are well-organized and carry union banners and flags. None of this has been present at the vast majority of these protests.

By: Marc

Marc — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 13:08:51 +0000

I would have thought CL(ASSÉ)'s estimate to be 3.7 - 4.1 million.

By: Alex H

Alex H — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 08:06:57 +0000

I am saying that, while other media generally let the story go (or buried it) Quebecor (especially TVANouvelles site) was more than willing to count the days. Even on the days where there were very few protesters, they counted it as the "XXXieme" nightly protest. I don't think it is actually a support of the students, as much as a way to put pressure on the Charest government. Now, what would be interesting is to find out how many students were protesting, and how many others were protesting. I have a feeling that many of these so called student marches were really just the usual collection of professional protesters, union members paid to attend, and others who just felt it fun to bang pots and be noisy.

By: Fagstein

Fagstein — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 07:28:26 +0000

I also think 80K sounds insanely low for the May demo. I don't believe 400K but 80? Naw.

I've laid out my methodology for my estimates for both protests. For your math to work some part of my math must be wrong. Which part?

By: Fagstein

Fagstein — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 07:25:26 +0000

They appear to be veyr big supporters of the students

You're accusing Quebecor of showing a systemic bias in FAVOUR of the student movement?

By: wkh

wkh — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 05:43:08 +0000

I don't think transit is a good way to compare. The people attending don't all get on or off a metro or bus at the same place like the do with those other examples, or at the same time. A lot of people walk to the start point, and most go to a bar rather than a bus or metro when done walking. Or back to their residence as the manif passes nearby. I think 12K sounds insanely low. I don't think the numbers honestly matter beyond "enough to block traffic and cause drama." I also think 80K sounds insanely low for the May demo. I don't believe 400K but 80? Naw.

By: Alex H

Alex H — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 02:11:20 +0000

"The closest thing to an official estimate we've had of one of these protests before now is QMI Agency's call of about 150,000 for that May 22 protest. They did not reveal their methodology, but it was the only time a news agency offered its own number." QMI / TVA Nouvelles has been adamant about counting every "nightly" protest and reporting it like it was a big thing, even on the nights when it seemed to be 5 homeless guys banging their shopping carts together. They appear to be veyr big supporters of the students, or more likely big supporters of anything that makes the Charest government look bad. So their estimates of 150,000 is likely very, very, very, very exaggerated. It's one of those times where you can see the political bias of the media coming out.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 02:03:26 +0000

I have one question for people who think that these figures for protests are too low: have you ever been to a sporting event?
Go to an Impact game beforehand and afterward. Watch the crowd snake along (and that is what is does, crawl to the parking lots an metro station). Get a sense of density, speed, flow.

Then find out how many people bought tickets and went.

I am of the opinion that anyone saying there was more than 20, 000 people at this week's protest thinks that Saputo stadium has a capacity of 300,000.

By: Walter Zuker

Walter Zuker — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 22:32:13 +0000

Excellent discussion on quantitative information being "fed" to the media.

Sadly this is the rule and not the exception.

By: Vaudreuil Bob

Vaudreuil Bob — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 20:47:34 +0000

24,000 more or less, sounds about right to me. They passed in front of our offices on Rene Levesque. We were watching them from above.