US: Newsosaur's online survey: 55.2% favor two editors per story

A recent survey on newsosaur.blogspot.com revealed that the overwhelming majority of those surveyed preferred at least two editors to ‘vet’ a story before it goes to print.

Of the more than 400 respondents to the online survey as of Mon. evening, 55.2% favored two editors per story, 21.9% advocated three or more editors per story, 20.4% said a single editor was sufficient and a mere 2.5% said reporters didn’t need anyone looking over their shoulders. Clearly, the majority of voters favored multiple editors per story, reported newsosaur.


The question, 'can newspapers afford editors?' again arises as survey results reveal that readers think otherwise. Alan Mutter, a Silicon Valley CEO and former editor of the San Francisco Chronicle, questioned the viability of maintaining such a stringent, and costly, editorial process when newspapers are struggling to cut costs and mind the bottom line.

While some readers criticized Mutter’s suggestion that newspapers should reconsider the economic feasibility of sticking to “traditional” methods of producing quality newspaper content at a time when traditional methods are proving too costly, Mutter maintained that he is just the bearer of ‘bad’ news.

“Take aim at the messenger if you like, but please understand that the staggering level of economic inequity is a real and indisputable problem threatening the long-term survival of newspapers as we know (and love) them,” he said.

Source: newsosaur.blogspot.com through Poynter Romanesko