Daily Archives: June 27, 2008

Reader feedback: Direct email vs. posted comments

June 27, 200812:27 p.m.

Alan, I’ve never done a formal count of phone calls/emails I get compared to comments posted on the board. A rough guess is that at least 90% to 95% come to me directly. Increasingly, those people explain that they didn’t want to post publicly. Also, I often address questions here that I get in person at community events.

I understand their point and yours about subjecting yourself to abuse by rude posters. On the other hand, when you post publicly, everyone gets the benefit of reading all of your comments. I suppose it’s a plus that more people use their real name when they email or call, and they probably wouldn’t in a posted comment. So in that regard, it’s a more personal connection for me to get direct contact vs. a post.

But posted comments allow for a multi-directional conversation. If you do post, and you feel like someone attacks you personally, flag that post and we’ll review it.

By Sherry Chisenhall | Filed under Kansas.com, News content, People, Reader issues, Web/Tech | Comments Off

Where are the Editor’s Desk bloggers?

June 27, 200812:14 p.m.

Ellie asks a pointed question, and she’s right. Our posting is spotty on this blog, and we need to do better. She says she clicked on the About link, and has “never seen a peep from those peeps.” Her chastising is on point and we’re without a good defense. We need to do better.

When I make time to post here, I get (mostly) great feedback from readers and I love the two-way conversation. The other newsroom editors also need to get in the habit of making time to post – we all do, and Sports Editor Kirk Seminoff brought this up recently. So you’re right, and I’ll take your challenge to crack the proverbial whip. And yes, I’ll also gig Jean to post a “real bio.”

By Sherry Chisenhall | Filed under Kansas.com, News content, People, Reader issues, Web/Tech | Comments Off

Look for these changes in Eagle’s print edition

June 27, 200812:09 p.m.

Over the next week we’ll be introducing a few changes to the printed version of the paper, in some cases to make the best use of our existing news space, and in one instance because we also need to reduce expenses. Overall, these changes ought to be a plus for the majority of our readers, as we’ve looked for smarter ways to use our printed paper and Web site to take advantage of the strengths of each medium.

I’ll give you a quick overview here of what’s coming, and we’ll have reminder notes in the paper through the week to help readers find some content that has moved.

Look Sunday on the front of the Business section for business editor Tom Shine’s column explaining upcoming changes to daily and Sunday business sections. We’ll be shifting our resources to give businesspeople more local business news during the week, when they’re working, and putting less emphasis on weekend business coverage. Tom will explain more about that, and the changes that take effect starting Tuesday.

Also Tuesday, you’ll find our Neighbors community news in a new spot, on a new day. The Neighbors pages, previously published inside the Local & State section on Thursday, will run as a separate sheet, on heavier paper, in the Tuesday paper. We’ve also added color to the page.

And starting July 5, the Wichita on Wheels page will move to the Saturday paper, on the back of the Sports section, from the Sunday paper, on the back of the current Business section. Mike Berry will remind Wheels fans about this change on this week’s page.

I realize some readers will love the changes and some won’t, and we welcome your feedback.

By Sherry Chisenhall | Filed under News content, Reader issues | Comments (2)