Conferences are our most important events – this I wrote last year after our Salzburg conference. This statement is even more valid this year because we have organized a two-in-one WAPOR 77th cum WAPOR Asia Pacific 7th Joint Annual Conference, and our first-ever joint global-regional conference has passed all performance tests with flying colours.

Allowing that my sample may be biased, all conference participants who have spoken or written to me have hold the conference in high regard, and many of them have already committed themselves to joining our next conference. Just like last year, I have openly solicited comments from our members, and I will dedicate this President’s Letter to re-posting their comments. Last year, I received 15 pieces of sharing. This year I have 22 at the time of writing this letter, representing an increase of about 50%. Last year, I capped my re-postings at 50 words, this year I expanded it to 100. For those longer than 100 words, please click on the relevant weblinks to read their full text. Here comes the sharing, arranged in chronological order of their submission […].

Since September 2019, WAPOR has been hosting a diverse array of public webinars, addressing key themes in public opinion research across various regions and methodologies. These webinars, categorized into thematic, regional, and methodological tracks, provide a platform for experts worldwide to share their insights and advancements.

A major focus has been on survey methodologies, with webinars addressing the evolution and challenges of survey techniques. Topics such as mixed-mode surveys, the use of wearables and apps in data collection, and the intricacies of CATI and SMS surveys have been discussed. Sessions on gridded population sampling and mixed-mode surveys highlight the ongoing innovation in data collection methods. The webinars also delve into the reliability and validity of convenience-sample surveys and the challenges posed by big data.

Regional public opinion research has been another focal point. Webinars have explored public sentiment and political attitudes in various regions, including the Middle East, Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and Eurasia. Specific sessions have addressed public opinion research in Iraq and Syria, electoral surveys in Central and Eastern Europe, and elections and surveys in Argentina and Chile. These discussions provide a comparative view of public opinion trends across different geopolitical landscapes.

Thematic issues such as climate change, democracy resilience, and water insecurity have been thoroughly examined. Webinars on perceptions and communication on climate change and new methods for measuring water insecurity demonstrate WAPOR\’s commitment to addressing global challenges through public opinion research. Additionally, the impact of COVID-19 on survey research practices and the lessons learned during the pandemic have been crucial topics of discussion.

WAPOR’s webinars serve as a vital resource for public opinion researchers, fostering a global exchange of knowledge and best practices across diverse and pertinent topics. Recordings of webinars are available at the WAPOR You Tube Channel.

WAPOR Latin America, the regional chapter of the World Association for Public Opinion Research which brings together specialists in research on public opinion, communication and political behavior, will meet in the beautiful city of Florianópolis, southern Brazil, on occasion of its XI Congress, which will be an exclusively onsite event. During three days, from April 28 to 30, 2025, scholars, consultants, pollsters, professionals from private market and public opinion research agencies and specialists in the areas of social and political communication who focus in Latin America will meet at the premises of UFSC (Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina) for insightful exchanges of ideas, knowledge and experiences.

National Representatives at WAPOR serve an important role within the organization promoting the mission of WAPOR in their countries and facilitating advancement of public opinion research domain worldwide. They encourage professional colleagues and students to consider WAPOR membership and participation. National Representatives participate in WAPOR’s Freedom Survey conducted every 5 years that serves as the basis for the ESOMAR-WAPOR Freedom in the World Report. National Representatives also provide a brief annual report and current advice as needed to WAPOR regarding polling-related issues within my county/region including, but not limited to, threats to the freedoms to conduct and publish opinion polls, as well as general trends in the opinion research business. 

WAPOR announces an open call for nominations for the position of WAPOR National Representatives for 2024-2025 in the following countries/ territories: Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Burundi, Congo, Croatia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Guatemala, Guinea Bissau, Haiti, Iceland, Ireland, Kosovo, Liberia, Madagascar, Malta, Mozambique, Namibia, Norway, Oman, Taiwan, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.  

Dear WAPOR members,

WAPOR invites expressions of interest to expand the following our Committees:

• Finance Committee: 1 member

• Membership Committee: 2 members

The period of service shall be 2024, with the possibility to prolong for another year.

To learn more about the activities of the WAPOR committees, please, consult the WAPOR Constitution: https://wapor.org/about-wapor/constitution/ 

To learn about the committee chairs and other members, please, check the WAPOR website: https://wapor.org/about-wapor/committees/

WAPOR Committees are important bodies that both facilitate and guide the development of the Association. We very much look forward to welcoming new members aboard the WAPOR Committees!