Archives
Survey finds Reporter chief source of UB news
By SUE WUETCHER
Reporter Editor
The results are in, and the Reporter continues to be the major source of UB news for university faculty and staff, with most reading every issue of the publication, according to a readership survey conducted last semester.
The online survey also found that most respondents read the weekly, online version of the newspaper, as well as its bi-weekly print version.
The survey was conducted to measure readers' reaction to and interest in the Reporter and its various components, as well as to get input on its print and online versions. Respondents for the unscientific survey were solicited through notices in the print and online versions of the Reporter, as well as via a letter sent to a randomly selected group of faculty and staff members asking them to fill out the online survey.
Two-hundred and five persons—mostly UB faculty and staff members—completed the survey. It was the first Reporter readership survey to be conducted solely online and open to all members of the university community. The last Reporter readership survey was conducted in 2001.
Fifty-six percent of respondents cited the Reporter as their chief source for UB news, followed by The Buffalo News, 9.2 percent; the Spectrum, 8.7 percent, and the UB News Services' Web site, 7.3 percent. WBFO, MyUB and departmental colleagues also were cited as sources of news about the university.
Sixty-one percent of respondents said they read every issue of the Reporter. Only 11.7 percent said they rarely or never read the newspaper. And of those who read the paper, 58 percent read most or all of the paper.
Nearly 70 percent of respondents rated the Reporter overall as excellent or very good. Only 7.8 percent rated it as fair or poor. Seventy-seven percent said the Reporter makes them feel very or somewhat connected to UB. Only 7.3 percent of respondents reported the paper does not make them feel at all connected to the university.
The survey showed that the online version of the Reporter has proven to be popular with readers. Eight-five percent of respondents were aware that the Reporter is available weekly at http://www.buffalo.edu/reporter. Sixty-seven percent said they read the online version, and 71 percent participates in the email notification service that emails subscribers when a new online issue has been posted. "Without a doubt, this is the most user-friendly, convenient and time-saving e-zine I have seen," wrote one professional staff member.
Although the online Reporter is well read, the print version maintains a loyal following.
"I appreciate receiving news updates by email or having them on the Web, but I do prefer to read the Reporter in paper," wrote one faculty member. "I look at the paper copy much more closely."
Added a professional staff member: "I like to read the Reporter on my lunch hour. I don't have time to read it during my regular work hours, so I want a paper version. I would like to read it online, but I just can't do it with all the other email and stuff I have to do online at work."
Surveying readers is just one way the Reporter staff is working to make the publication a more effective news source serving the UB community. Readers are encouraged to email story ideas, ideas for subjects for Q&As and profiles, and letters to the editor to ub-reporter@buffalo.edu.