Newspapers at the Crossroads:
Journalism From Milwaukee to Minneapolis

Following are the raw results of our survey.  See the related stories and graphs for analysis of the "cross tabulations" and associations when these variables are combined.  A total of 585 professional journalists from all across Wisconsin, the Twin Cities and Duluth responded to our survey.  The figures in the parentheses below do not sum to 585 on most questions because some respondents skipped some questions.  The percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding.

Mike Dorsher, PhD, assistant professor, UW-Eau Claire; former Wisconsin State Journal reporter and washingtonpost.com editor

1. Which of these best describes your current job at the newspaper?
     (N=585)		 Reporter (233, 39.8%)
Photographer (40, 6.8%)
Online staffer (14, 2.4%)
Copy editor (82, 14%)
Copy chief, news editor or photo chief (33, 5.6%)
Assignment editor (27, 4.6%)
City editor or assistant city editor (26, 4.4%)
Managing editor or asst. managing editor (22, 3.8%)
Editor in chief or executive editor (10, 1.7%)
Publisher or owner (17, 2.9%)
Other (81, 13.8%)
2. Which of these circulation groups best fits your newspaper?
     (N=582)		 Non-daily under 5,000 (25, 4.3%)
Non-daily 5,000 or more (21, 3.6%)
Daily under 10,000 (6, 1%)
Daily 10,000-35,000 (105, 18%)
Daily 35,001-100,000 (110, 18.9%)
Daily over 100,000 on average (315, 54.1%)

3. How long have you worked at your current newspaper? (N=584)
Less than one year   1-5 years   5-10 years   10-15 years   More than 15 years
    (16, 2.7%)                   (202, 34.6%)  (93, 15.9%)     (76, 13%)           (197, 33.7%)

For questions 4 through 25, please consider how your newspaper has changed since you first began working there, no matter how long ago that was.

4. How has the amount of coverage your paper gives to local news changed? (N=584)
It's much more now   Somewhat more now   About the same   Somewhat less now   Much less now
    (66, 11.3%)                   (164, 28.1%)                   (265, 45.4%)           (73, 12.5%)                   (16, 2.7%)

5. How has the amount of coverage your paper gives to state news changed? (N=582)
It's much more now   Somewhat more now   About the same   Somewhat less now   Much less now
     (11, 1.9%)                    (66, 11.3%)                     (274, 47.1%)           (153, 26.3%)                 (78, 13.4%)

6. How has the amount of coverage your paper gives to national news changed? (N=582)
It's much more now   Somewhat more now   About the same   Somewhat less now   Much less now
     (16, 2.7%)                     (139, 23.9%)                  (295, 50.7%)           (103, 17.7%)                 (29, 5%)

7. How has the amount of coverage your paper gives to international news changed? (N=579)
It's much more now   Somewhat more now   About the same   Somewhat less now   Much less now
     (30, 5.2%)                     (140, 24.3%)                   (249, 43%)             (114, 19.7%)                 (46, 7.9%)

8. How has the amount of coverage your paper gives to business changed? (N=577)
It's much more now   Somewhat more now   About the same   Somewhat less now   Much less now
     (86, 14.9%)                   (214, 37.1%)                   (222, 38.5%)          (51, 8.8%)                     (4, 0.7%)

9. How has the amount of coverage your paper gives to sports changed? (N=572)
It's much more now   Somewhat more now   About the same   Somewhat less now   Much less now
     (100, 17.5%)                 (192, 33.6%)                   (260, 45.5%)           (19, 3.3%)                    (1, 0.2%)

10. How has the amount of coverage your paper gives to entertainment, arts and "lifestyles" changed? (N=576)
It's much more now   Somewhat more now   About the same   Somewhat less now   Much less now
     (114, 19.8%)                 (186, 32.3%)                   (228, 39.6%)          (42, 7.3%)                      (6, 1%)

11. How has the overall quality of your newspaper changed? (N=582)
It's much better now   Somewhat better   About the same   Somewhat worse now   Much worse now
     (97, 16.7%)                    (227, 39%)               (125, 21.5%)           (188, 20.3%)                     (15, 2.6%)

12. How has the competition among newspapers in your circulation area changed? (N=583)
It's much greater now   Somewhat greater now   About the same   Somewhat less now   Much less now
     (30, 5.1%)                       (99, 17%)                            (283, 48.5%)          (100, 17.2%)                 (71, 12.2%)

13. How has the circulation of your newspaper changed since you began working there? (N=550)
Up over 10 percent   Up 2-10 percent   Less than 2 percent change either way   Down 2-10 percent
     (42, 7.6%)                     (126, 22.9%)            (150, 27.3%)                                             (167, 30.4%)             Down more than 10 percent
     (65, 11.8%)

14. How has the overall size of your paper's news staff changed? (N=576)
It's much larger now   Somewhat larger   About the same   Somewhat smaller now   Much smaller now
     (44, 7.6%)                     (126, 22.9%)             (150, 27.3%)           (167, 30.4%)                      (65, 11.8%)

15. How has the influence of women in your newsroom changed? (N=579)
It's much greater now   Somewhat greater now   About the same   Somewhat less now   Much less now
     (127, 21.9%)                    (208, 35.9%)                     (216, 37.3%)           (24, 4.1%)                     (4, 0.7%)

16. How has the racial diversity in your newsroom changed? (N=576)
It's much greater now   Somewhat greater now   About the same   Somewhat less now   Much less now
     (60, 10.4%)                      (183, 31.8%)                     (285, 49.5%)           (43, 7.5%)                     (5, 0.9%)

17. How has your job satisfaction changed? (N=583)
It's much greater now   Somewhat greater now   About the same   Somewhat lower   Much lower now
     (30, 5.1%)                        (145, 24.9%)                      (189, 32.4%)          (151, 25.9%)             (68, 11.7%)    

18. How has your own workload changed? (N=582)
It's much greater now   Somewhat greater now   About the same   Somewhat less now   Much less now
     (143, 24.6%)                    (247, 42.4%)                      (143, 24.6%)          (47, 8.1%)                     (2, 0.3%)

19. How much do your think your paper's news gathering efforts have been affected by its owners? (N=575)
We're much more restricted now   Somewhat more restricted   About the same   Somewhat less restricted
     (34, 5.9%)                                        (152, 26.4%)                           (345, 60%)              (34, 5.9%)                 Much less restricted now
     (10, 1.7%)

20. To what degree has the ethics of your newspaper changed since you began working there? (N=579)
It's much more ethical now   Somewhat more   About the same   Somewhat less   Much less ethical now
     (29, 5%)                                   (116, 20%)              (367, 63.4%)          (55, 9.5%)              (12, 2.1%)

21. How do you think your management's emphasis on the newspaper's profit margins has changed? (N=582)
It's much greater now   Somewhat greater now   About the same   Somewhat less now   Much less now
     (206, 35.4%)                    (246, 42.3%)                     (123, 21.1%)           (6, 1%)                          (1, 0.2%)

22. In comparison with the cost of living, how has your salary from the newspaper changed? (N=579)
It has risen much faster than inflation   Somewhat faster   About the same as inflation   Somewhat slower
     (19, 3.3%)                                             (103, 17.8%)            (225, 38.9%)                            (171, 29.5%)    
Much slower than inflation
      (61, 10.5%)

23. How much change has there been in the value of the benefits from your newsroom job, such as medical coverage, paid vacation and retirement funding? (N=582)
Their value is much greater now   Somewhat greater   About the same   Somewhat less  Much less now
     (23, 4%)                                          (97, 16.7%)                (213, 36.6%)          (188, 32.3%)         (61, 10.5%)

24. How do you think your job security has changed? (N=582)
It's much greater now   Somewhat greater now   About the same   Somewhat less now   Much less now
     (14, 2.4%)                        (70, 12%)                           (302, 51.9%)          (156, 26.8%)                 (40, 6.9%)    

25. How many times since you started working there has your newspaper laid off journalists? (N=577)
None         Once             Twice          Thrice         Four times or more
(334, 57.9%)      (115, 19.9%)     (87, 15.1%)     (27, 4.7%)      (14, 2.4%)

Questions 26 through 28 refer to civic journalism; i.e., "public journalism," or what its critics sometimes call "advocacy journalism."

26. How would you describe your newspaper's current stance on civic journalism? (N=559)
Very positive   Somewhat positive   Indifferent or none   Negative   Very negative
     (107, 19.1%)       (311, 55.6%)               (116, 20.8%)              (21, 3.8%)     (4, 0.7%)

27. How much does your newspaper practice civic journalism compared to similar-size newspapers in this region? (N=552)
Much more   Somewhat more   About the same   Somewhat less   Much less
     (54, 9.8%)        (203, 36.8%)            (216, 39.1%)          (58, 10.5%)            (21, 3.8%)

28. What effect do you think civic journalism has on the credibility of the newspapers that practice it? (N=557)
It greatly enhances their credibility   Somewhat enhances it   Little or no effect   It somewhat hurts credibility
     (75, 13.5%)                                        (223, 40%)                       (150, 26.9%)             (82, 14.7%)             
Greatly hurts it
     (27, 4.8%)

Questions 29 through 35 deal with the ownership and management of your newspaper.

29. Which one of the following best characterizes the ownership of your newspaper? (N=575)
It only owns this newspaper   It owns fewer than five newspapers   It owns 5-10 newspapers
     (65, 11.3%)                               (27, 4.7%)                                            (75, 13%)
It owns more than 10 newspapers   It owns multiple newspapers, along with some television and/or radio stations
     (207, 36%)                                         (201, 35%)

30. How long has your newspaper been part of a multi-newspaper corporation -- if it is? (N=559)
Not applicable   Less than one year   1-5 years   5-10 years   10-15 years   More than 15 years
     (66, 11.8%)           (3, 0.5%)                    (163, 29.2%)  (28, 5%)          (23, 4.1%)          (276, 49.4%)

31. In the time you've worked there, how many times has the ownership of your newspaper changed hands? (N=583)
None         Once            Twice        Thrice      Four or more times
(410, 70.3%)     (147, 25.2%)     (15, 2.6%)     (8, 1.4%)      (3, 0.5%)

32. Does your newspaper offer you stock options or discounts on its stock? (N=581)
No               Yes               Yes, but I do not yet qualify for them
    (126, 21.7%)    (437, 75.2%)      (18, 3.1%)

33. In your experience, how does working for a corporate-owned newspaper compare to working for an independently owned newspaper? (N=573)
Don't know, because I've never worked for the other type (192, 33.5%)
Corporate-owned is much better to work for (23, 4%)
Corporate-owned is somewhat better to work for (30, 5.2%)
They're about the same or a mixed bag (151, 26.4%)
Independent is somewhat better to work for (95, 16.6%)
Independent is much better to work for (82, 14.3%)
34. Which one of the following best characterizes your publisher's background? (N=565)
Came up through the editorial side   Came up through the business side   Came up through family ties
     (295, 52.2%)                                       (219, 38.8%)                                       (43, 7.6%)
Came from a non-newspaper position
     (8, 1.4%)

35. If you don't now, how long ago did you last work for a publisher who came up through the editorial ranks? (N=490)
Never   Less than one year ago   1-5 years ago   5-10 years ago   More than 10 years ago   N.A.
(123, 25.1%)  (19, 3.9%)                        (61, 12.4%)          (39, 8%)                 (55, 11.2%)                       (193, 39.4%)

To finish the survey, please answer the five final questions, on your "demographics."

36. Which sex are you? (N=581)
Woman   Man
(231, 39.8%)    (350, 60.2%)

37. What is your race or ethnicity? (N=578)
White   African American   Asian American   Native American   Hispanic American   Multi-racial
(538, 93.1%)  (13, 2.2%)                (12, 2.1%)               (3, 0.5%)                  (5, 0.9%)                     (6, 1%)        Other
(1, 0.2%)

38. Are you a member of a union at your newspaper? (N=581)
Yes            No, we have a union, but I'm not a member   No, we have no union
(266, 45.8%)       (88, 15.1%)                                                      (227, 39.1%)

39. Which of these broad groups best describes your annual salary from your newspaper job? (N=577)
Under $20,000   $20,000-$50,000   $50,001-$75,000   Over $75,000
     (17, 2.9%)               (266, 46.1%)               (244, 42.3%)              (50, 8.7%)

40. Which best describes your higher education? (Check all that apply.) (N=636 total checked among 582 respondents)
No college degree (45, 7.1%)
Bachelor's degree in journalism from a UW or U of MN campus (165, 25.9%)
Bachelor's degree in journalism from another public university (115, 18.1%)
Bachelor's degree in journalism from a private university (42, 6.6%)
Bachelor's degree with a major other than journalism (165, 25.9%)
Master's degree in journalism (56, 8.8%)
Master's degree other than journalism (45, 7.1%)
Ph.D. (3, 0.5%)

This survey was conducted in partial fulfillment of the course requirements for CJ 429: Print Journalism Seminar, taught by Dr. Mike Dorsher, at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.  This course is in compliance with the course certification requirements of the University Institutional Review Board for the Protection of Human Subjects.