Level of interest in the police investigations
Everyone I know agrees with me.
I hear that sentiment a lot, primarily from people who don't like something we have done. I have learned to discount it as an argument because while it could be true, it doesn't mean anything.
I mention that because we have just begun using a new measuring tool that asks people a variety of questions about specific items in the newspaper. This week, we asked about this story about police misconduct investigations. The group surveyed is small -- please join up! -- so I'm not drawing any conclusions yet. One result is interesting, nonetheless.
One hundred or so people who said they read the story were asked "Have you looked or will you look for more information as a result of the article?" 40 people answered no and 28 said yes. The rest were non-committal or did not answer.
Some of the no's explained:
No. Greensboro gets too tied up with items that are better left alone.
No!! The issue has been beaten to death and any conclusions will arbitrarily be dismissed as either racist or inconsequential.
No. What's done is done. Let's move ahead with the current situation.
No. I'm tired of the topic. Even though I might agree with the information -- and though I know it's important to some people -- it's like beating a dead horse. Leave it alone for awhile.
And the yes's:
Yes. I like to be kept abreast of issues that relate to our daily lives in the Greensboro community.
Yes. But I did not agree with this article. It read like an editorial and not like an unbiased piece of news. The vast majority of the department are decent and honorable people. This article is the last thing that an understaffed department needs.
Yes, there is so much going on with the Greensboro police & fire departments and also with city council. We want to know what is REALLY going on & the recent articles are shedding some light on the answers and briefly explains why they can't tell more.
Reader interest or lack of interest aren't the only thing we consider. Journalists keep reporting some issues despite the seeming lack of public interest because the issues are important. But I understand the sense of apathy/weariness with the story. It has been going on for nearly three years with no end in sight. For the casual follower, it is hard to know what is what and even harder to keep it all straight.
But I digress. On the police investigation, I've heard both "Nobody cares about that" and "This is the biggest story in the city." Both views come from passionate, engaged citizens who believe they are doing what's best for the city.
Comments (14)
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John,
I know that a newspaper is a business that must attend to the needs and wants of its customers, but it is also a public service, an institution of and for the public good. So there is a sense where such feedback matters, and a sense where it does not. As a journalist what does your heart tell you? Is this story something that pertains to the public good? Is this important? Does this matter? In my line of work I have to ask myself similar questions.
Posted on February 29, 2008 3:36 PM
I just joined up!
Posted on February 29, 2008 3:39 PM
If you're actually asking me, Joel, as opposed to posing rhetorical questions, my answer is that yes, the story is important enough to continue writing about.
Posted on February 29, 2008 4:59 PM
Anyone who reads the News & Record can join our panel. As a panelist, you'll answer questionnaires posted on our website about specific advertisements and stories. Respond to every questionnaire or answer only when it's convenient for you. You decide!
JR, why is reading the N & R a prerequisite for participating on the panel since the questionaires will be posted on your website! Is this an attempt at a new stratagy to recruit new readers! I'd like to participate but the only part of the N & R that I grew to like were the crossword puzzles. BTW...........the DA's office has determined that no laws have been broken relevant to the so called 1979 GPD Klan files, will your paper be reporting this? Beau
Posted on February 29, 2008 5:34 PM
Beau, the panel is asked about the N&R. If you don't read us, then you can't be very effective in answering the questions.
For instance, we've had the DA's office story on the web site since this morning. And it'll be in the paper tomorrow.
Posted on February 29, 2008 5:52 PM
John, I love that you're measuring and I'd like to learn more about that.
Posted on March 1, 2008 2:54 AM
I'll talk to you off line, Maurreen.
Posted on March 1, 2008 8:08 AM
John
I think this whole thing is nonsense. All based on anonymous sources. You give credibility to people who are trying to stir up as much trouble as they can. I do not believe they want to end racial strife. The only power they have is your paper and you hand it to them on a silver platter. Its called Political correctness John, and its wrong.
Posted on March 1, 2008 11:02 AM
John,
Yes, that was a sincere and honest question. It was/is the sincere and honest question I think you as a journalist personally just have to answer amidst such varying feedback, as I must do in my work as well.
Posted on March 1, 2008 12:49 PM
Wayne, what you say could describe Jerry's series in the Rhino in a lot of ways.
I wonder why no one is stepping forward and saying "it never happened." That would be one way to undercut the credibility of the claims.
Posted on March 1, 2008 12:51 PM
Wayne, I've been thinking. (I'm careful; I didn't hurt myself!)
Would you feel the same way if three ministers came out and said they had information that the police department destroyed 50 boxes of files that related to the RMA investigation and that the ministers had met with Mitch Johnson last fall to ask for a police investigation and been turned down? But that the ministers didn't reveal their source. Would you say that it was nonsense and that we should ignore it?
Posted on March 1, 2008 5:14 PM
Yea, I would ignore it, if it was 30 years after it happened, duh.
Posted on March 1, 2008 7:20 PM
John
Thanks for responding. You are right. Jerry has not explained everything he has written to my satisfaction. However, if the N&R had covered the story, Jerry's series would have had much less impact. To me his reporting has been "uncovering" things that we the readers would probably never have known.
I think you reported only what you wanted us to read and gave Mitch and the COG a free ride. His conduct concerning Daid Wray is deplorable. He should be fired.
As for the three ministers, no.
Posted on March 2, 2008 2:17 PM
Oops, meant to say yes
Posted on March 2, 2008 2:19 PM