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October 25, 2007
Reader forum addresses Post pros, cons
Like any good business, we want to know what our customers want -- and what they don't want. To that end, our editor, Jim Smith, organized a recent focus group of diversified readers to comment on the Connecticut Post.
It was a good mix of readers: urban, suburban, white, Latino, liberal and conservative, all of whom appreciated being invited and got involved in a lively discussion. One wanted to know if our corporate parent, MediaNews Group, sends orders on coverage and editorial points of view. "There are no such mandates," Smith told them.
Here's some of the content they liked:
Sunday commentary section
Neighbor to Neighbor
Things to do list
Thumbs-ups on Saturday editorial page
improved Web site with more news and frequent updates
Some suggestions:
Stop moving the World and Comics pages. They like to be able to find them easily. A2 was discussed as a possible page to anchor World news.
More national and world news. While most acknowledged local news is important, many felt we gave too little information on events happening elsewhere.
Better link Web and print products with more references between the two, and more content unique to each that can be promoted.
More Bridgeport news on page A1 and throughout the newspaper. "Everyone has a Bridgeport connection," one panelist said. Even if they don't live here, "people still want to know what goes on here."
Offer a weekend-only Web subscription. "Many of us see the newspaper at work during the week but live outside the area," one said.
Make a serious effort to address minorities in the community, both in print and on the Web.
Thanks to all who participated, and I can tell you that some suggestions for changes are already under discussion.
Posted by Ted Tompkins on 2:26 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 11, 2007
Cemetery story strikes a nerve with many readers
Our story about the forgotten dead at St. Augustine's Cemetery in Bridgeport has sparked concern and outrage among readers. Reporter MariAn Gail Brown has received more than 100 voicemails and e-mails from people who have expressd outrage at the conditions at the cemetery. Many have even offered to help with any attempts to clean up St. Augustine, as was evidenced by Wednesday's Letters to the Editor section in the newspaper.
The story came to light when staff photographer Phil Noel stopped by the property recently during the course of his daily assignments and began to take pictures. It took him a while to realize it was a cemetery. We were originally going to publish Phil's pictures as a photo essay, but the more he looked into the situation, the more we realized it was a story that needed to be told.
Posted by Ted Tompkins on 2:33 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
