November 16–23, 2000

on media

Terry Madonna, Reporters at Your Feet...

Madonna media-whore complex: G. Terry Madonna

In Philadelphia, the only thing more common than sports and war analogies in political reporting is quotes from G. Terry Madonna, chairman of the political science department at Millersville University.

Madonna is the Daily News’ pollster, so it makes sense that his name appeared in that paper 26 times so far this year. But he’s actually shown up in the Inquirer more frequently — 28 times. And neither figure is a record; in 1994, Madonna’s name appeared in the Daily News 32 times.

Madonna, speaking from his Millersville office, says he can’t explain his popularity, except to suggest that it’s just fed off itself. In addition to polling for the Daily News (and Fox Philadelphia), he’s served as an analyst for WHYY and been interviewed many times by talk radio stations.

"We put out a lot of research," he says, referring to Millersville’s Center for Politics and Public Affairs, which he heads. "We do the Keystone Poll, we put out a lot of articles and reports. … I think of what we do as supplying information to a whole variety of people."

If reporters frequently use that information, or call him for comment, that’s their business. Neither he nor the university have made an effort to promote the center’s work, he says. But if it helps to promote discussion, so much the better.

"I think it’s great when people get involved in political debate," he says. "That’s what I always try to do as a teacher."

—Frank Lewis