Out of interest...

[Ceri JC]

...when you read a newspaper (if you read them at all), roughly what percentage of it would you say you read? Does anyone really actually read them from cover to cover?

NB: There is a serious (academic) point to this, so please keep your answers accuratish (unless they're obviously joking), but I'd like to have a few replies before I elaborate a bit more.

Thanks in advance.

[linco]

Never been a reader, never read proper papers. Too stupid to understand it. I'd look at the sport in the tabloids and occassionally read the actual articles

[Warthog]

I rarely read newspapers, perhaps once a month. It alternates between glancing at front covers when they are in someone elses possesion, and reading them thoroughly except the sporting sections and the adverts. HTH

[Jimmy2Feet]

i dont know thats quite a hard question to answer!!! i would say at a guess flick through once and just glance at what there is on the pages, mostly looking at the pics, reading what grabs my eye, then go through it again and look more closely at what articles there are!!!! i would take a guess at........only 40% of the paper get read!!!

[tricky]

Probably only about 20%
For this reason I don't buy newspapers very often anymore.

[Ping]

I'm a cover to cover girl... Though that's assuming they don't 'continue' the front page on page 6 or something then I have to go back... :P

[Carsick]

Maybe 30% when I do bother. I get most of my news online, though.

[keithd]

tough one to answer really. depends on

1.the rag i read
2.(not being funny) what news the is being reported
3.what day of the week it is

ref 1 - if i'm reading the times i will spend more time reading it, i will read the stories of interest thoroughly. i'd say maybe 45-50%. if i'm reading the mail not so much.

ref 2 - a slow news day will result in a lot of gossip speculation and repeated news. precentage prolly down to 25

ref 3 - weekends i have more time than a week day. i could spend 2-3 hours (if prior arrangements allow) reading the sunday times no problem, percentage maybe around the 60 mark

[UlsterSV]

The only paper I get is the Daily Mail on a Saturday and that's mainly for the TV guide :roll: I usually only scan over the paper itself and read the articles of most interest. I used to buy a paper every day and read it all but now I'd say I only read about 20% of one paper a week. I've found that mainstream news outlets only tell you what they want you to know. But my Grandad he reads every single word on every single page in every paper he buys :lol: Even the women's magazines you get with the papers on a Sunday. God knows what he finds so interesting. At least he's getting his money's worth :lol:

[fizzwheel]

I'll read the first 10 - 15 pages, depending on the paper. I tend to skip the middle junk pages that advertise holidays etc etc and quickly skim the back sports section in the summer for any motorsports news.

It depends on the articles in the paper though.

[Tara]

Cover to Cover for me

[rpwoodman]

I read a broadsheet pretty well cover to cover, tho I (at best) skim the sports pages.
I get a local paper each evening and read about the first 10 pages of that.

[andyb]

Normally read cover to cover, unless the news is really boring when I just pick the stories that look interesting. HTH :D

[Viney]

I scan a paper to be honest. If a headline jumps out of the page at me, then i'll read it. So probably 10%ish

[Ceri JC]

Thanks for the replies folks, keep 'em coming.

Background: I'm looking at a research proposal for a project and I wanted to confirm my suspicion that most people read a third or less of most newspapers, particularly with regard to weekday ones. I'm not going to actually develop a "solution" to this problem, more that I'm considering researching the specifics/consequences of this problem and discuss possible solutions (customised newspapers, online alternatives, etc.)

[Scoobs]

ref 1 - if i'm reading the times i will spend more time reading it, i will read the stories of interest thoroughly. i'd say maybe 45-50%. if i'm reading the mail not so much.

You read the Mail? Do you slip it inside a copy of the Sport to avoid the embarrasment?

[Steve W]

30% absolute tops - probably nearer 20%

I suspect it varies a bit on the paper... at the heavier end of the market I'd be surprised if anyone got much above 50% and has a life...

[Warren]

mags, normally cover to cover, authough recently i havent been reading the bike tests in bike mags as they just seem to be repeating themselves, and say the same thing every month (r6 vs GSX-R vs CBR vs Ninja) ect ect.

[Alpinestarhero]

I read roughly 15-20% of the newspaper? I skip sport, business and celebrity stories, reading only the science parts and stuff to do with current world affairs. It depends on the newspaper and the news around, but since i read the independent this is generally what i read.

Hope its of help, are you doing a study?

Matt

[Alpinestarhero]

Thanks for the replies folks, keep 'em coming.

Background: I'm looking at a research proposal for a project and I wanted to confirm my suspicion that most people read a third or less of most newspapers, particularly with regard to weekday ones. I'm not going to actually develop a "solution" to this problem, more that I'm considering researching the specifics/consequences of this problem and discuss possible solutions (customised newspapers, online alternatives, etc.)

Sorry, just read this. Really interesting study and I hope it turns out well for you. Is it a disseration for a uni course? Your hypothesis is certainly a good one! I dont think you'll have trouble finding supporting evidence.

Matt

[Dave The Rave]

Scan fron page for main headlines and than straight to sport and finance.

[hovis]

I scan a paper to be honest. If a headline jumps out of the page at me, then i'll read it. So probably 10%ish

me too i would say 20% tops

[philipMac]

Depends on the paper. I dont like US papers. Reading the whole thing is not an option with them, due to the massive amounts of crap in them.

Back in Ireland I read the Irish Times. Which is a solid paper. I read or scan more or less all of it, except for the GAA stuff. No interest.
UK papers, I normally buy when i am flying somewhere, so I read those babys fairly thoroughly too. But, only broadsheet papers.

[zunkus]

Mostly see what's on the telly, check out the weather graphics, give it a fast page scan for anything of interest to me (read art, adverts and motoring) and that's it really.

[Cloggsy]

I probably read about 10 to 20% of any newspaper (the sports news mainly,) then ditch the rest...