Brown and Caldwell
Water News Reader Survey Results Summary
(Compiled by Jennifer Finley)

We are grateful to all of you who participated in the recent Water News Reader Survey. We had 1,200 responses nationwide. When asked how you heard about Water News, over half of you (53%) responded that you were referred by a coworker or colleague. When asked if you would recommend the Water News to others, almost all of you (99.6%) said '"yes." Many thanks for all of the support - please keep the referrals coming! Please feel free to continue to send your comments and feedback. Your suggestions are always welcome. Simply click here to write the Managing Editor.
 

Content

Overall, readers indicated that they are happy with content. Suggested additional topics include:

• Scholarship opportunities
   
• Info. from recent professional journals
   
• Abstracts in pertinent journals
   
• Actions taken by various boards, policies, rate increases
   
• Reports on water grade operator classification, testing and study aids
   
• Fisheries, Range, Forestry, Recreation, Fire Prevention and Suppression, Law Enforcement, Limnology
   
• Legislative hearings where water issues are discussed
   

Design

Most readers are happy with the format and functionality and find the layout very user-friendly. We did receive numerous comments on a couple of issues that we would like to address here:

• Newspaper Registration. (This was the number one complaint of readers.) Many of the papers now insist on reader registration. We completely understand and sympathize with your frustration. Unfortunately, there is no workaround for this situation. On a positive note, the papers offer a FREE subscription as long as the form is filled out - you can't beat that price. It is a one-time process and usually only takes a moment. With regard to providing personal information and to potentially invoking SPAM ... there is no filter that we are aware of that verifies the validity, other than your email address, of what is entered into the form. (Not that I am suggesting that anyone take creative liberties ...) And ... we hate Spam as much as you - but it is simply a fact of nature when dealing with the Internet. If anyone finds the solution, please let us know.
   
• Article follow-ups. We need your help with this. We cover hundreds of stories each day and are always looking for follow-up stories and additional coverage that offers a variety of slants to the story. If you can help, please forward headlines to the attention of the editor.
   
• Scrolling - some readers were not aware that the graphics in the headers are hot-linked to the states. Try clicking, instead of scrolling.
   

Specialty Pages

We were surprised to see that many readers are not aware of our Specialty Pages: Asset Management, CMOM, Infrastructure Funding and Water Resources. You will find the links to them in the left columns of the newsletters. We invite you to take a peek at all of them and send us your feedback.
 

Reader Participation

We were disappointed to see that the overwhelming majority of readers (89%) have never participated in our reader contests.

We would like to remind our readers that we are always happy to run your meeting announcements and press releases. Please forward them to the editor in html or PDF format, or as a direct link to the notice on your site. Most of you were not interested in participating in blogs. These were some of your suggestions to increase reader participation:

• Asset Management chat/user group
   
• Q/A from operators on problems
   
• Place to post bio or resume
   
• Interviewa with water industry workers
   
• Message board to post general questions about water resources
   
• Publish "RFPs" for those who might want a "project" instead of just a job

My favorite responses in the survey ...

• "I think the editor, Jennifer Finley is fabulous!" (Brilliant response!)
   
• Why do you read Water News? "So I can carry on a conversation with someone when they ask me, "... say, you're one of those over-paid under achieving city workers, aren't you? So why are publicly owned natural resources being used by private companies to provide this nation with it's God given right to free water and electricity?" Hey, I'm just trying to answer the cry of public discontent. My standard answer is usually to have them start reading about the issues in your newsletter! Keep up the good work!"
   
• "I really don't think the term 'Gentle' Readers' is necessary. As a matter of fact, every time I read the words "Gentle Reader" it makes me angry! Gentle my ass! We are always riled up about some so-and-so over here at my place!"