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Aug. 14, 2008

To the Sounding Board:

Special thanks to 19 newspapers that participated in our survey about use of news from Iraq and Afghanistan:

Detroit Free Press, Richmond Times-Dispatch, The Palm Beach Post, Florida Today, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Dayton Daily News, Montgomery Advertiser, The Roanoke Times, Wyoming Eagle-Tribune, Lancaster New Era, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, The Free Lance Star, Arizona Daily Star, Danville Register & Bee, Dothan Eagle, The Marietta Times, Culpeper Star-Exponent, The Times of Shreveport and The Detroit News.

The results:

■ Comparing newspaper use of Iraq news now to a year ago, 47 percent (nine) said the amount is unchanged, 47 percent (nine) said less, one is using more.

■ For online use of Iraq news, 55 percent (10) said the amount remains unchanged, 27 percent (five) use less and three (16 percent) said more.

■ Placement of Iraq stories is overwhelmingly inside section A and multiple times weekly, according to 83 percent (15); 11 percent (two) use 2-3 stories weekly inside A; 5 percent (one) said 2-3 stories weekly on the front page.

■ On newspaper use of Afghanistan news, 68 percent (13) said it's up compared to a year ago; 26 percent (five) said unchanged and 5 percent (one) is using less. Online it's a virtual split – 47 percent (nine) said more and 42 percent (eight) said less.

■ Afghanistan copy is being played almost exclusively inside A: 47 percent (nine) said multiple times weekly and 47 percent (nine) said 2-3 times weekly.

■ AP coverage of Iraq and Afghanistan is used by all 19 respondents; 47 percent (nine) also listed McClatchy; WXP and LAT are used by 31 percent (six) each and NYT by 26 percent (five); 10 percent (two) use other services, as well.

■ Barack Obama's trip to the war zones was played inside section A by 68 percent (13), fronted by 10 percent (two) and printed as a combination of front and inside by 15 percent (three).

■ 94 percent (18 of 19) say AP meets their needs for spot, in-depth, features and analysis from both Iraq and Afghanistan.

■ Stories about violence/terrorism are rated "top" interest by 52 percent (10); stories about political developments got a "high" interest rating from 52 percent (10); analysis rated "high" for 47 percent (nine); human interest got a "medium" rating from 68 percent (13).

■ AP fixtures like troop death tolls are used once to several times weekly by 30 percent (six); 15 percent (three) said once monthly; 52 percent (10) said "other," meaning they use the figures for background or incorporation in other stories.

■ Respondents were split over use of AP's in-depth projects about the war in newspapers and online: 47 percent (nine) use them, 52 percent (10) don't because of tighter space.

Among the comments:

■ We are committed to regular coverage of Iraq , as extensive as possible given news hole constraints ... (The Roanoke Times)

■ AP is typically the base of our Iraq and Afghan coverage, with details and info rmation added in from the other wire services. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)

■ AP covers the skirmishes well and is the first choice when the news is deadly. That said, we also look to other services for trends and stories beyond the daily fighting. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

■ I would like to see more analysis of the situations from AP. (Rochester Democrat and Chronicle)

■ (Pentagon correspondent) Bob Burns is a good guy. (Detroit Free Press)

■ We don't publish the (fixture) information, but check it every day for local soldiers who have died in either conflict. (The Detroit News)

■ Analysis stories provide great context, but tend to run long and get cut to fit ever-tightening news hole. (Florida Today)

■ "... A shorter series or one with optional trims would be more usable for our paper." (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)

■ "... An observation on series in general: They have a strike against them from the start unless they are really breaking some news. Again, it requires committing to space that might not be there ..." (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

The full survey, responses and comments are available at this link:

www.surveymonkey.com/sr.aspx?
sm=8tcBUX9MRFYy4j_2f8VLGiNjx2DpBJiZ0UMwMH_2f5CW6_2bk_3d

Because of the importance of this topic, the survey remains open for those who still want to weigh in. Click on this link to reach the questionnaire:

www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?
sm=18yWHcyq08OMxpS5OlzJYQ_3d_3d

Thank you for taking part.

— David Minthorn

Dave Minthorn, manager, AP News Administration, coordinates the questions and answers. Newspaper editors wishing to suggest a topic can send an e-mail to Minthorn at dminthorn@ap.org.

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