What do you like?
Since its very first edition, Spore s different sections have provided the reader with access as much to new ideas and policies as to practical techniques, experiences, resources, publications and events. By far and away the most intensively popular section is the set of long articles, twice as popular as its nearest rival. Almost 42% of all respondents (542 in all) call it their favourite section. A further 124 (13%) vote for it as their second or third favourite. The news in brief section is next, with 273 (21%) of respondents calling it favourite, and 29% their second or third favourite. The third most popular section is on publications, the favourite of 208 respondents, and the second or third favourite of a strong 58% of all respondents. What do you want? Most respondents want to expand sections, in the order of long articles, news, publications and Viewpoint. Should anything be shortened? An emphatic two-thirds of the 842 respondents to this question says No!, although each section is offered up for some shortening by about 7% of respondents. Size and frequency count too! This desire for expansion is not reflected in many respondents opinions about size and frequency. A strong 73% of readers think that publishing Spore every two months is just right. Almost 70% think that the size is right, but a significant minority of almost 30% want it to be longer, usually 20 or 24 pages. This message of Keep It As It Is, but Pack More In! continues with readers judgement about Spore s content. A total of 82% think that the balance is just right. About one in 20 readers thinks that the content is too technical, or too varied, or too superficial. Only one in 50 thinks that it is too political. Clearer perspective on topics More than one in four respondents wanted more coverage of livestock issues, and one in five on information and communication. One in six wanted more features on general agricultural techniques, and on crop cultivation and protection. Less than one in fifteen wanted more information on water and soil management, on macro-policies, and on organisation and finance. One in thirty wanted more coverage of gender issues. The full list of desired topics is in the full report of the survey. In addition to topics, there is a question of tone. Several readers wrote at length about Spore s moral authority too, suggesting that coverage of taboo subjects such as AIDS would be respected by younger members of the community. This would take Spore outside of its original mandate, but the fact that such comments have been made merely serves to underline the regard in which the magazine is held. Currently, Spore has six sections, across 16 pages: Long articles: (five pages) three articles on general policies and trends News in brief: (four pages) thirty short articles on plants, animals, research, networks, events, market information Links: (one page) in-depth looks at resource organisations Publications: (three pages) reviews of books and multi-media Between Us: (two pages) a readers Mailbox, plus CTA s institutional news Viewpoint: (one page) from a reader Esporo has an extra section for more news from Portuguese-speaking countries.
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| Format: | News Item biblioteca |
| Language: | English |
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Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation
2002
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| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/47675 |
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