April 15, 2009

Register keeps faithful connected, deepens their faith, say readers

By Roxanne King

The vast majority of those who receive the Denver Catholic Register not only read it (92 percent) but more than half of those getting the newspaper share it with others (52 percent) and nearly every reader likes the newspaper’s layout and readability (94 percent), describing it as “excellent” or “good,”  a readership survey conducted last summer reveals.

The study, undertaken by Boulder-based Core Insights in May and June, was a random telephone survey of 250 adults in households receiving the Register and included 16 follow-up calls and nine one-on-one interviews for in-depth information.

The Denver Catholic Register is delivered into 90,000 households in the Denver Archdiocese. Because more than half of our subscribers pass along each issue to others, the newspaper’s net readership goes up to some 135,000 people, the survey shows.

The top three sections of the newspaper – those read “most” or “all the time,” according to the survey – are local news (70 percent), Archbishop Charles Chaput’s column and the saint’s profile (both garnered 60 percent), and world and nation news (57 percent).

“The Denver Catholic Register is highly-regarded for its scope and content,” states the survey summary.

Those of us who labor at the Register were delighted with the survey results. As we have sought to show during these past few weeks of our inaugural JOIN the MISSION voluntary subscription campaign, for 109 years the newspaper has aimed to inform, evangelize and catechize the faithful.

Despite the challenges of the economic downturn and the changing media landscape, as we delve more deeply into the third millennium we at the Register recognize that the timeless message of the Gospel is needed now more than ever. We remain committed to sharing the good news of God’s people today and showing how Church teaching is relevant for your life. Our readership survey and your e-mails, letters, phone calls and in-person comments to us tell us we’re doing that.

Your generous response to our JOIN the MISSION campaign, which has resulted, so far, in some $5,000 in voluntary subscriptions, confirms that you value the Register. Recent subtle changes we’ve made to the Register in our ongoing quest to improve the already award-winning newspaper were also well received. But we thought we’d let you share in your own words what you like about the Register.

“I love it,” said Jo Lauter Hardesty, 63, a novelist and parishioner at Holy Name Church in Steamboat Springs. “I read it from cover to cover as soon as it gets here every week.

“It’s where I get all my news because I’m not real fond of the secular newspapers and the news I’m most interested in you cover,” continued Hardesty. “I think it’s perfect. It’s my favorite source of news and Catholic information. It’s worth way more than the price of a subscription.”

Joseph Crotty, 42, a software application engineer and parishioner at Holy Trinity Church in Westminster, described the Register as “a great resource for Catholics to help them further grow in Christ” and as “a one-stop shop for Catholic information, events, editorials and stories both local and national.”

“Reading the DCR sharpens our minds to think and act more like Christ,” Crotty said. “Keep up the great work. The new redesign looks very solid; especially the front page which I think is simpler and more directed.”

“I’m grateful that the archdiocese has such a good, informative Catholic newspaper,” said Seth Naser, 27, who works at YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park and is a parishioner at Our Lady of the Mountains.  “Living in a little mountain town, I sometimes feel isolated.  It’s nice to know what’s going on elsewhere in the archdiocese.

“I love Archbishop Chaput and I read his weekly column to be encouraged in the faith,” added Naser. “My younger sister worked at the ‘Y’ last fall, and when the Register came every week, we’d do the CateQuiz’em together. I’d usually win, but it was fun to test each other.”    

Register subscribers include people who live outside the state, most of whom once lived here but now get the DCR to stay connected to the Denver Archdiocese. Rita Patterson, 63, a real estate broker in Houston, Texas, is among those.

“I enjoy the Register,” said Patterson. “I find it a dependable source of information concerning the Church universal.”

Calling the opinion pieces by Archbishop Chaput and the Register’s syndicated columnist George Weigel “enlightening,” Patterson added, “I find the stories regarding the local Church … exciting and moving.”

Although the Denver Catholic Register is available online at archden.org/dcr, Patterson said she likes getting the print edition because: “You get the pictures! You don’t get all the pictures online.” 

Recognizing that we compete with many media, we are grateful to all our readers for your loyalty. As we close out the editorial promotion of our first JOIN the MISSION campaign, we extend a special thanks to those of you who contributed to our mission through your voluntary subscriptions. Know that all of you are in our prayers as we continue to spread the good news of salvation. May the Register bless your lives and may it bring God greater glory and honor.

Roxanne King is editor of the Denver Catholic Register.