Logo
Gary Langer Headshot
Report a problem with this profile
[email protected]

Gary Langer  

Former Director of Polling, ABC News

Gary Langer is an internationally recognized public opinion researcher with expertise in news polling, analysis of social, political, and economic attitudes, questionnaire design, data interpretation, survey methodology, and survey management.

Formerly director of polling at ABC News, Langer founded Langer Research Associates in August 2010 after a 20-year career at ABC, during which he oversaw and analyzed more than 700 opinion polls. Beyond political and election analysis, his work has encompassed topics including international affairs, views on terrorism and security, healthcare policy, economic anxiety, environmental attitudes, and a broad range of other social concerns.

Langer has won two Emmy awards and received eight Emmy nominations – the first and only to cite public opinion polls – as well as being honored with the 2010 Policy Impact Award of the American Association for Public Opinion Research for a series of surveys in Afghanistan and Iraq, described in AAPOR's citation as "a stellar example of high-impact public opinion polling at its finest." He's a two-time winner of the University of Iowa-Gallup Award for Excellent Journalism Using Polls, produced a pair of ABC News polls recognized by the Excellence in Media Coverage of Polls Award from the National Council on Public Polls, and shared a division-wide DuPont-Columbia Award for ABC's 9/11 coverage.

Langer has been at the forefront of the movement for standards and disclosure in survey research and improved news reporting of polls, creating ABC's industry-leading poll standards and vetting operation and advancing disclosure initiatives through professional organizations. A frequent speaker, writer, and commentator on public attitudes, he's the author of "The Numbers" blog at ABCNews.com, has authored or co-authored nearly 30 scholarly papers, and has given more than 60 invited presentations on the contours, measurement, and meaning of public opinion.

Langer is a member of the Board of Directors of the Roper Center for Public Opinion Research, a trustee of the National Council on Public Polls, and past president of the New York chapter of AAPOR. He is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of New Hampshire.

Speech Topics

Politics, Policy & Public Opinion: A Pollster's Perspective

The Current State, Source and Direction of Public Opinion, Knowing Good Numbers from Bad: Data Consumption for Business Leaders (and the Rest of Us), Issues, Ethical Standards, and Best Practices in Public Opinion Research, The Aims of Public Opinion Research and its Role in Reliable Journalism

What Your Customers Really Think

Think you know your customers? Guess again. What they tell you in sit-downs might be much different from how youre really perceived. To make better business decisions, you need to know how youre perceived, not only by your customers, but by the rest of your industry. Respected pollster Gary Langer, Emmy Award-winning pollster for ABC News, provides you with a presentation customized specifically for your organization, with information you need to make smart business decisions for the future. No matter what your industry or specialization, Langer collects, reviews and analyzes relevant data, delivering a hard-hitting and eye-opening review of current perceptions, their sources and the opportunities and challenges they present. Youll come away with a better understanding of your perception in the marketplace, and how to leverage that information to be more competitive.

Polls: What Theyre Good For, And How To Use Them

Polling is an inexact science: theres so much information out there, with many sources claiming to have the most up-to-date data, that it becomes difficult to know what information is reliable. Gary Langer, Emmy Award-winning pollster for ABC News and one of the most respected and trusted pollsters in the industry, provides valuable information to help you better grasp how the world is changing and what you should do about it. Langer peppers his discussion with recent polls that clarify the political, economic and social mood of the nation today. He discusses how trends inform currentand futurepublic attitudes and the resulting policies. Its an illuminating look at where we are, where we're headed and the forces that will shape attitudes for years to come.

Related Speakers View all

More like Gary