y e a d e r s talk 



Below are the results of our 

 Coastwatch reader survey. We mailed 

 surveys to 490 subscribers — every fifth 

 person on our zip-sorted mailing list. We 

 received 264 completed surveys back in our 

 office, which constitutes an excellent 

 response rate of slightly more than 50 

 percent. Thanks to all of you who took the 

 time to complete the survey and send it 

 back. Your comments and suggestions will 

 be helpful as we plan for next year. 



Here's what you had to say. Reader 

 comments are preceded by this symbol : 

 ▲ , and editor's comments appear in italic. 



How many people read your Coastwatchl 



One (15%) 



Two (47%) 



Three (14%) 



Four (7%) 



Five or more (16%) 

 Based on this information, we know that 

 2.6 people read each copy of Coastwatch 

 mailed for a readership of about 6,800. 



How long have you subscribed to 

 Coastwatchl 



Three or more years (69%) 



One to three years (23%) 



Less than one year (8%) 



How often do you read the following 

 sections of Coastwatchl 



Always Usually Sometimes Never 



Longer feature stories 



(54%) (34%) (9%) (0%) 



Short science stories 



(60%) (30%) (8%) (0%) 



Short nature stories 



(60%) (30%) (8%) (0%) 



Stories about Marine Advisory 



Service activities 



(50%) (29%) (15%) (2%) 

 Aft Deck 



(50%) (31%) (10%) (3%) 



What type of stories do you find most 

 interesting or useful? (Check all that apply.) 

 Stories about coastal history (82%) 

 Stories about coastal resources 

 (75%) 



Stories about coastal controversies 

 (74%) 



Stories about specific places (72%) 

 Science stories (58%) 

 People profiles (38%) 



Which of the following best describe 

 Coastwatch' s presentation of information? 



Fair and accurate (48%) 



Easy to read (46%) 



Outstanding (41%) 



Informative (38%) 



Biased (1%) 



Too technical (1%) 



Too environmental (1%) 



Too sentimental (1%) 



Too simple(l%) 



Are the length of the Coastwatch feature 

 articles: 



About right? (93%) 



Too short? (3%) 



Too long? (3%) 



Which of the following best describes 

 Coastwatch's visual presentation? (Check 

 all that apply.) 



Attractive (84%) 

 Typeface easy to read (26%) 

 Not enough photographs (15%) 

 Not enough color (8%) 

 Typeface hard to read (1%) 

 Too flashy (0%) 

 Too much copy (0%) 

 Too conservative (1%) 

 Too many photographs (1%) 



How useful to you is Coastwatchl 

 Moderately useful (47%) 

 Very useful (41%) 

 Marginally useful (7%) 

 Not useful (0%) 



A I enjoy reading it for myself, and I 

 use in my classroom. 



A As a commercial fisherman, I need 

 to keep up with all the hoopla and 

 controversy. 



A Have ordered several publications 



How did you find out about Coastwatchl 

 A friend (25%) 



Other Sea Grant newsletter (21%) 

 Other (21%) 



One of the N.C. Aquariums (18%) 

 At a Sea Grant extension office (5%) 

 Newspaper (4%) 

 Library (3%) 



A I have subscribed so long I don't 

 remember. 



As a result of reading Coastwatch, have 

 you: (Check all that apply.) 



• Increased your awareness of 

 marine/coastal issues? (91%) 



• Gained a greater awareness of Sea 

 Grant efforts on behalf of the marine and 

 coastal environment? (81%) 



• Developed a better understanding 

 or appreciation of marine science? (75%) 



• Become a better-informed voter on 

 coastal issues? (55%) 



• Ordered any Sea Grant publica- 

 tions? (47%) 



• Subscribed to any of Sea Grant's 

 other free newsletters? (31%) 



• Used the information as supporting 

 material in a classroom or other educa- 

 tional situation? (20%) 



• Attended Big Sweep, the statewide 

 waterway litter cleanup? (15%) 



• Used the information to help your 

 community or state better manage or use 

 its coastal resources? (14%) 



• Called a Sea Grant agent or 

 specialist? (10%) 



• Used the information in your 

 business to help develop solutions or 

 answers to marine-related problems? (8%) 



• Attended a Sea Grant workshop or 

 conference? (7%) 



Rate the importance of the following uses 

 of Coastwatch to you: 



Very Fairly Not 



Important Important Important Important 



Raises awareness of marine/ 

 coastal issues 



(67%) (23%) (6%) (0%) 

 Educates about marine/coastal issues 

 (61%) (30%) (3%) (1%) 

 Is a source of regional coastal 

 information 



(49%) (35%) (7%) (1%) 

 Makes science understandable 

 (28%) (35%) (20%) (6%) 

 Presents the latest coastal research 

 (39%) (39%) (12%) (1%) 

 Presents the latest coastal extension 

 activities 



(27%) (32%) (22%) (7%) 

 Is a source of marine publications 

 (25%) (31%) (18%) (4%) 



24 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 1995 



