Washington Post Media says that Capital Insight will design, implement and analyse high-impact survey research for philanthropic foundations or commercial enterprises wishing to better understand public opinion, carry out leadership surveys, track topics and do effectiveness testing.

The group currently conducts primary research and analyses political trends for The Washington Post newsroom and conducts custom surveys for The Post’s advertising division. It says it will now offer the services externally through qualitative and quantitative surveys and consulting services into areas including data management, analysis and presentation. It already has partnerships with ABC News, the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Pew Research Center, retaining its independence from The Washington Post’s newsroom and advertising departments.

Jon Cohen, who has been The Post’s polling director and polling editor since 2006, will be in charge of the group. He said: “When we moved the polling department out of The Post’s newsroom and into research & analytics two years ago, we expanded our focus on political and sociological topics to market research surveys and analyses of business opportunities. Now with the launch of Capital Insight, we’re able to offer our high-quality, independent services more broadly. The creation of Capital Insight allows us to maintain the longstanding integrity of Washington Post polls, while simultaneously creating new business opportunities.”