Almost three-fifths of the editors said they“strongly agree”(13%)or agree(46%)that city magazines often use hard-hitting articles that provide much new information about pertinent local issues.Almost a third said they“disagree”(29%)or“strongly disagree”(2%)with this contention;5%said they don't know,and 5%did not answer.Four-fifths of the respondents in 1979 expressed agreement.More than two-thirds of the smaller circulation magazines,68%,and larger circulation magazines,69%,agree or strongly agree with this statement,but only 44%of those in the medium circulation group do.
At the same time,almost half(45%)of the editors said they“strongly agree”(13%)or“agree”(32%)that with the exception of a few magazines,city magazines avoid controversial issues that might upset members of the local power structure.More than a fourth(30%)said they“disagree”(25%)or“strongly disagree”(5%)with this contention;21%said they did not know,and 4%did not answer.Almost two-thirds of the respondents in 1979 were in agreement.
Influence on Issues.More than half of the editors(57%)said they believe their coverage of local issues has had influence on their readers.Only 2%said they did not think so.Many said they did not know(34%)or did not answer the question(7%).Three-fourths of the editors in the 1979 study said they believed their overall coverage of local issues had had an influence on their readers.
Most of the editors said their magazines take stands on local issues through editorials,columns,or other labeled commentary.Almost three-fifths said they do so often(32%)or occasionally(27%).Only 18%said they never do take such stands.Slightly more than that(23%)said they seldom do.Only 13%of the respondents in 1979 said they often took editorial stands;34%said they never did.
The smaller circulation magazines are more likely to take stands than the larger ones.More than two-thirds of the smaller magazines do so“often”(32%)or“occasionally”(36%),and more than three-fifths of the medium circulation magazines do so“often”(39%)or“occasionally”(22%)as compared with less than half of the larger circulation magazines that do so“often”(25%)or“occasionally”(19%).
Almost two-thirds of the editors said they feel“very free”(43%)or“free”(23%)to comment on issues.Almost a third said they feel“some hesitance”(18%)or“very hesitant”(12%)to comment;4%did not answer.A slightly higher percentage said in the 1979 study that felt“very free”(46%)or“free”(27%)to tackle controversial issues;22%said they had“some hesitance”and 5%said they were“very hesitant.”
The smaller circulation magazines indicated they feel more freedom to comment than those in the large circulation group.More than two-thirds in the small circulation group said they felt“very free”(45%)or“free”(23%)to comment,and more than two-thirds in the medium circulation group said they feel“very free”(44%)or“free”(22%)to comment whereas only half of those in the large circulation group said they felt“very free”(31%)or“free”(19%)to comment.
More than half of the editors said they believe their commentary on issues has influence.Only 2%said they do not think it does.Almost a third said they don't know.In 1979,27%,said their commentary had influence,14%said it did not,and 59%said they didn't know.
Several editors cited their letters as evidence of their influence on readers.Some listed specific instances in which they think they may have prompted government or citizen action.For instance,one editor said an editorial feature on problems created by the Wetlands Commission in pursing its regulatory mandate had prompted the mayor to call a public forum and appoint an independent committee to investigate the question.Another editor cited the passage of a very controversial school levy the magazine had supported,and another suggested its commentary may have prompted needed changes in a local public television station.
Three-fourths of the editors“strongly agree”(20%)or“agree”(55%)with the assertion that city magazines can and should run more articles and editorials about local issues because their readers can exert influence in the community.Only 11%“disagree”(9%)or“strongly disagree”(2%)with this assertion;7%said they did not know,and 7%did not answer the question.The circulation of the magazine did not appear to make much difference in this question except that the editors in the larger circulation group were more likely to“strongly agree.”An even higher percentage(85%)said in the 1979 study that they“strongly agree”(34%)or agree(51%)that city magazines should run more articles on issues.