Good morning all,
I don’t want to overdo coverage of last week’s LION Publisher’s meeting. Still, I wanted to point out one startling finding that came in an afternoon session.
Research from Duke University indicated that Delaware is a red state. We’re not talking politics. The red refers to the percentage of journalists.
Jesse Holcomb, a professor at Calvin College, said Delaware is part of a cluster of states that include Maryland and New Jersey with a low percentage of journalists.
Holcomb said the reason is not readily apparent. It could be due to the states’ location between media centers in New York and Washington, D.C.
On the plus side, Holcomb pointed to stats that indicated local online operations like Delaware Business Now were generating more revenue and becoming more stable,
One thing we do know is that Delaware has fewer newspaper reporters and less diversity.
After cutbacks and departures over the years, the News Journal’s editorial staff does not appear to have any African-Americans in its editing and reporting group.
The newspaper’s fairly sizable video and photography staff is more diverse and now rivals the number of reporters the publication and website can put on the street.
All of this seems to be affecting the print product with a growing volume of content from the Salisbury, MD area and other corners of Delmarva.
At the same time, the NJ appeared to either/or increase the size of its type or the leading (the space between lines of type). It creates a cleaner look, aids an aging audience and leaves less room for stories.
I can now read the tweaked NJ without glasses.
Your thoughts, tips and ideas are always appreciated. If this newsletter was passed along, click here to subscribe at no charge. –Doug Rainey, Publisher
