From Poverty to Power Reader Survey 2012

1. From Poverty to PowerReader Survey 2012 Sian Jones

7. Difficulties / Challenges with Language • Language occasionally too technical / colloquial / jargony for some. • Possibility to include a link to a glossary of development terms? • ‘Pop-up boxes with a short definition when technical jargon is used’ ? • ‘It’s just very British, so some phrases need Google assistance. But I don’t mind at all!’

10. Other Main Roles / Jobs • Consultants. • Research / think-tank.

12. Other Ways How Found Out About FP2P • University lectures / guest lectures • ‘Required reading for university course’ (!)

14. Other Use for FPP • Great for interesting links. • To follow developments / updates in international development sector • Keep up-to-date. • ‘Have stuff pointed out that I wouldn’t otherwise see’. • ‘Provides me with a daily dose of development talk’. • Education. • Thought-provoking / ‘challenge own thinking’ / inspiration. • ‘Ticks so many boxes – stay up to date, thought-provoking, helps link ideas up, see how what we do to support research and HE connects to wider development debates’.

17. Comments on Format / Technical Problems • ‘Poor internet connection, so low-res options are appreciated!’ • ‘Graphics don’t work on mobile’ • Several comments regarding problems with graphics / images. • ‘Sometimes the images don’t display’. • Occasional display / format problems with Google Reader. • ‘Sometimes the formatting and Google Reader clash’. • Occasional problems with links on iPad. • There are requests for a mobile version of the blog. • Want to be able to read whole blog in email alert (particularly where problems with connectivity). • ‘If the email subscription could in any way be made a little more visually appealing that would be awesome’.

19. Other Topics/Content Respondents Want FP2P to Post • Guest writers and perspectives from global South • Writing about local campaigns. • Voices from the field. • Country-focus articles. • ‘The posts that I found most useful have been where you have highlighted an interesting study / book / piece of work that encourages contributors to then post links with counter-factual or contrary viewpoints’. • Policies, impacts, government positions • Economic policy and impact on poor • IMF, WB, trade etc. • ‘Theoretical underpinnings of Oxfam’s approach’. • ‘Really vital to me is the humour...overall its breadth is part of what makes it valuable, and worth reading... His non-random musings about the world of development, delivered with humour, are my main link to a world whose vast content is usually hard to approach except in silos’.

20. Other Topics/Content Respondents Want FP2P to Post • ‘What I would appreciate is some organizing of topics by target population.’ • Children, refugees, smallholders, disability, etc. • Contributions from different fields in development, and from people at different stages of their career. • Research, monitoring and evaluation / accountability / aid effectiveness. • More posts on how change happens. • Interventions that failed and why / what works and doesn’t work. • MDGs. • Work of other NGOs and INGOs that address same issues as Oxfam. • Oxfam affiliates. • Campaigning / how to get involved. • Duncan’s speeches from conferences. • Climate change and development.

22. Respondents’ View on FP2P Guest Posts • Good balance • ‘Still retains mainly Duncan’s style but with other opinions and expertise’. • ‘They put a lot of specialized knowledge into each post’. • More guest posts from affiliates. • Important to keep conversational tone. • Also staying clear and concise; • ‘Guest posts often feel corporate’.

24. Respondents Want More Debate Through FP2P? • Respondents appear undecided, with stronger opinions both for and against. • General opinion to introduce more debate with care – not forced, not too often, careful choice of topic / question (and contributor), ‘keep the content interesting’. • ‘The topic and contributors would have to be chosen carefully to ensure that there is actual debate and not a ‘faux’ conversation masquerading as a debate’. • ‘It’s an interesting way to present arguments’. • ‘Would like to see more voices from global south in debates’.

29. Improving the Quality / Usefulness of FP2P • Reading lists / ‘What I’m Reading’. • Engage with comments more. • ‘It’s very good as it is’.

31. Other Regularly Read Blogs • DaniRodrik • Lawrence Haddad • Global Dashboard • Aid on the Edge of Chaos • Wronging Rights

32. Further Thoughts and Comments • More female and global South guest writers. • More effective search / navigation mechanism to find older posts. • Whole blog in email subscription (re. connection problems). • Useful for its links and resources. • More ‘accessible’ language. • Download versions (for kindle etc?) of book and posts. BUT • Strong / overwhelming preference for more of the same / happy with the balance of the blog. • Very useful – interesting nuggets of experience, info and analysis’. • ‘Don’t assume that a lack of comment/discussion mean people aren’t reading it and finding it useful’. • ‘He could write about fashion and I bet I would find it interesting’.