Folio scores high in reader survey

Eighty-one per cent of respondents to a recent reader survey rated Folio as either excellent (22 per cent) or good (59 per cent) in covering issues about the university. The same percentage rated Folio as excellent (26 per cent) or good (55 per cent) in covering U of A people.

Thanks to the more than 900 people who took the time to fill out the survey, out of a random distribution of 4,000 on and off campus, the response rate was a whopping 22.5 per cent.

Still, there's always room for improvement and many indicated they wished to see more controversial issues and debate (21 per cent) and more information on campus support staff and services (19 per cent). These were the top two written suggestions.

While Folio scored high on intelligence and credibility, readers want a more lively tone and more stories from the employee perspective, rather than administration, to provide a balance. At the same time, respondents like the even coverage between people and information stories.

Using a five-point scale, where five is excellent and one is poor, Folio was rated well above the mid-point for writing (3.87), design (3.86), photography (3.83) and diversity of issues covered (3.56). A majority of 61 per cent said they read all of Folio, or most of it, with an additional 36 per cent read some of it.

Faculty members are more likely to read the newspaper than support staff, and they are more likely to suggest coverage of divergent and difficult issues. Of the 906 respondents, 38 per cent were faculty and 49 per cent were support staff, with government members, grad students, journalists and other off-campus readers making up the rest.

The survey was designed to take a look at overall readership for the faculty and staff newspaper, rate satisfaction levels, find areas for improvement and gather statistical information for our advertisers. The data were tabulated by Marcomm Works and have a margin of error of 3.3 per cent.

Overall, Folio seems to be doing a good job, according to this survey. As for the suggestions.we'll get right on them.