Good News Magazine Reader Survey

GN reader survey provides positive feedback

Starting with the May-June issue of The Good News, we plan to do a regular online survey of readers to seek their feedback on the magazine.

In mid-May we posted an online survey and sent an e-mail to GN readers asking them to participate. The first 600 responses were tabulated and showed a very positive attitude toward the magazine (somewhat to be expected, since this was a voluntary survey).

Following is a summary of the survey feedback:

• 83% said they were satisfied with the Good News magazine; 16% were fairly satisfied; only 1% were not very satisfied or not satisfied at all. Very similar percentages found it helpful or not helpful.
• 60% rated the May-June issue excellent; 27% rated it above average; 12% rated it good and only 1% rated it below average or disappointing.
• 93% of respondents had read the cover article on the Middle East. Even for the least-read article, 40% of respondents said they had read it. Most respondents had read 60 to 80 percent of the articles in the latest issue.
• 48% said they read each issue cover to cover; 36% said they read most articles; 14% said they read some articles and only 2% said they skim the magazine or don’t read it.
• 79% of respondents had requested or downloaded one or more booklets and 77% had visited the Good News Web site in the last six months.
• 77% took the time to write personal comments, which were overwhelmingly positive and appreciative.
• Respondents were 60% male and 40% female.
• Age breakdown of respondents was 1% under 20; 3% 21-30; 10% 31-40; 21% 41-50; 30% 51-60; 23% 61-70; 11% 71-80 and 2% over 80.
• 24% had subscribed less than one year; 24% had subscribed for 1 to 2 years; 16% had subscribed for 2 to 3 years; 28% had subscribed for more than 3 years and 8% read it online only.

The types of articles responders said they were “very interested” in were ranked as follows:

1. Bible prophecy — 92%
2. Bible history/background — 87%
3. Bible doctrine — 81%
4. World news analysis — 79%
5. Christian living —  74%
6. Practical help/guidance —  52%
7. Social issues analysis — 52%
8. Family issues —  49%
9. Marriage —  45%
10. Parenting/child-rearing — 33%
11. Youth/teenagers — 28%

A few overall conclusions based on the above:

• Readers, at least those who responded to this survey, are quite pleased with the magazine and say it is helpful to them.
• They read a large amount of the content, which indicates that we are giving them the kind of material they want to read.
• Our overall emphasis of explaining world events in light of Bible prophecy and discussing Bible doctrine and teachings is on target and meeting readers’ wants.
• This shows that our media outreach needs to include both print and Web-based efforts, as a large number of subscribers utilize both rather than one or the other.

Scott Ashley—Managing editor, The Good News