Annual subscriber survey: plaudits, brickbats, and the way forward

I love this time of year – and not just because there’s the promise that the seemingly endless run of winter might finally ease up, or because I get to spend nearly three solid weeks watching college basketball.

No, I’m thrilled because this is survey season. For the last five years, we’ve asked you to tell us what you think of The Monitor. And each year, you’ve responded in startling numbers, with great generosity and consideration. Your honest feedback is a gift: It shows us that you care about local news, and it provides critical intelligence as we navigate the future.

A quarter of subscribers completed this year’s questionnaire by mail and online. As a whole, your appraisals were consistent with those of previous rounds: Basically, you like The Monitor, but you say we can do better. Many believe that Charlie Denison, The Monitor’s editor since last June, and reporter Eliza McLaughlin, are “excellent additions” to quote one. (I agree.) And you think we’re doing important work.