This week, we distill insights around CNN I'm Voting -- a Facebook app designed to encourage discussions around the US elections, and to mine insights from social conversations. 50+ thinkers and planners within MSLGROUP share and discuss inspiring projects on corporate citizenship, crowdsourcing and storytelling on the MSLGROUP Insights Network. Every week, we pick up one project and do a deep dive into conversations around it -- on the MSLGROUP Insights Network itself but also on the broader social web -- to distill insights and foresights. We share these insights and foresights with you on our People’s Insights blog and compile the best insights from the network and the blog in the iPad-friendly People’s Lab Quarterly Magazine, as a showcase of our capabilities. For more, see: http://peopleslab.mslgroup.com

1. crowdsourcing | storytelling | citizenship
People’s Insights: Volume 1, Issue 38
CNN I’m Voting

2. I’m Voting Facebook app
CNN partnered with Facebook to create the I’m Voting app to
encourage discussions on political issues, and to share insights from
these conversations in their coverage of the 2012 presidential elections.
1) apps.facebook.com/cnnimvoting/
2) gov20.govfresh.com/social-citizenship-cnn-and-facebook-to-partner-on-im-voting-app-in-2012-election/

3. New direction for CNN
With CNN TV ratings touching a 21 year low and with a 23% drop in the
24-54 year old category, analysts commend the network’s partnership
with Facebook and efforts to revamp their news products.
1) twitter.com/nprbusiness/status/236020985097236480
2) adweek.com/news/technology/cnn-announces-digital-election-partnership-facebook-141751

4. Power of social influence
The team behind the I’m Voting app and government 2.0 analysts
believe that social citizenship can impact the outcome of the elections. A
recent study from UC San Diego validates this theory.
ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/pressreleases/facebook_fuels_the_friend_vote

5. Good platform for debate
People appreciate CNN’s efforts to create awareness and spark
discussions around important issues, and point out the app’s potential in
reaching young voters.
1) facebook.com/CNNPolitics
2) peopleslab.mslgroup.com

6. Too much politics on Facebook?
However, several people are growing tired of the constant discussion of
politics and the elections in media and on social media, and resent the
additional discussions the I’m Voting app is likely to spark.
1) venturebeat.com/2012/08/22/facebook-cnn-launch-im-voting-app-to-add-more-politics-to-your-news-feed/
2) news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57498685-93/facebook-and-cnn-launch-the-im-voting-app/

7. Potential to gather metrics and insights
Analysts acknowledge the potential of the I’m Voting app to use metrics
gathered from surveys and insights gleaned from conversations, both to
predict trends and to better understand the views of the masses.
By Tim Berge
www.icrt.com.tw/blog/index.php?op=ViewArticle&articleId=1321&blogId=18

8. Only represents Facebook & CNN fans
Several people have criticized the data collected from the app, pointing
out that it does not truly represent the view of Americans but of
Facebook and CNN users, the majority of whom are democratic.
1) apps.facebook.com/cnnimvoting/
2) news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57498685-93/facebook-and-cnn-launch-the-im-voting-app/

9. Ignores independent candidates
People have also criticized the app for naming only Obama and
Romney and ignoring independent candidates such as Gary Johnson,
which comprises quality of data collected, and misleads app users.
apps.facebook.com/cnnimvoting/

10. Privacy concerns
People are also unhappy about the privacy concerns the app raises.
Some are wary about sharing their preferences with Facebook. Others
point out that voting is private and this privacy should not be violated..
1) news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57498685-93/facebook-and-cnn-launch-the-im-voting-app/
2) kurzweilai.net/facebook-cnn-and-the-rise-of-social-voting

11. Overall lack of trust & increase in cynicism
The criticism and comments from app users indicate a lack of trust in
the media and increase in cynicism towards elections coverage. People
are actively evaluating data shared and forming their own opinions.
1) gallup.com/poll/157589/distrust-media-hits-new-high.aspx
2) edition.cnn.com/2012/09/21/politics/facebook-im-voting-foreign-policy/
3) cnn.com/election/2012/facebook-insights/

12. Role of data in election coverage
Analysts and journalists speculate that digital tools and data will play a
big role this year – in media coverage and in people’s minds, and most
digital companies are riding on this hype with their own data products.
1) edition.cnn.com/election/2012/facebook-insights/
2) Facebook & CNN Election Insights, Amazon Election Heat Map, Twitter Political Index

13. Will social trends predict next US president?
Some believe that social trends will indicate the outcome of the
elections, while others caution that social trends may not be an accurate
measure of the entire population.
usatoday.com/tech/news/story/2012-03-05/social-super-tuesday-prediction/53374536/1

14. More People’s Insights Weekly reports
Every week, we dive into one topic for discussion on the MSLGROUP
Insight’s Network and discuss insights and foresights, in three key
areas: crowdsourcing, storytelling and citizenship.
Crowdsourcing Storytelling: Citizenship
Mahindra Spark the Rise @MarsCuriosity #Kony2012
For more reports, visit: peopleslab.mslgroup.com/peoplesinsights/

15. Read People’s Lab insights and foresights
The People’s Lab team shares the insights and foresights from the
MSLGROUP Insights Network on the People’s Insights weekly blog and
the People’s Insights Quarterly magazine.
MSLGROUP Insights People’s Insights People’s Insights
Network weekly blog Quarterly magazine
50+ MSLGROUP planners We deep dive into Every quarter, we will compile
share and discuss inspiring conversations around one the best insights from the
projects on corporate project -- on the MSLGROUP network and the blog in the
citizenship, crowdsourcing and Insights Network itself but also iPad-friendly magazine, as a
storytelling. on the broader social web -- to showcase of our capabilities.
distill insights and foresights.
For more, visit http://peopleslab.mslgroup.com

16. Coming soon: People’s Insights Annual
Report
In early January 2013 we will publish the People’s Insights Annual
Report, in which we synthesize our insights from throughout 2012 and
provide foresights for business leaders and change-makers for 2013.

17. People’s Lab: Crowdsourcing Insights &
Innovation
People’s Lab is MSLGROUP’s proprietary crowdsourcing platform and
approach that helps organizations tap into people’s insight for
innovation, storytelling and change.
For more, visit http://peopleslab.mslgroup.com

18. For People’s Lab
solutions, contact
pascal.beucler@mslgroup.com