Contact roundly approved by readers

Readers gave their overwhelming support to Contact magazine in November's audience survey, the first conducted for many years.

Over 70% of respondents rated the magazine positively with comments such as "excellent", "very informative", "a good read", "interesting", "valuable", "well presented", "the best university magazine I've seen" and even "wonderful"! "An informative read that lets me know what's happening in this very large organisation" - was typical of many responses.

We failed to hit the spot with just 6% of respondents who rated the magazine negatively.

Some 140 readers (4% of copies circulated) returned the questionnaires.

Most (97%) felt the tone was "about right"; most (90%) read all or most of the magazine and most (64%) felt the frequency was "about right".

All groups of staff identified Contact as their major source of university news, with the website coming next.

The academic pitch of Contact is reflected in the audience appreciation figures with 95% of academic respondents giving their approval compared with 86% of clerical staff. If there was a pattern it was that the latter would like to see more people-centred features and the occasional light hearted piece.

The difficulty of accommodating all audiences is nowhere seen more clearly than in the reaction to the publication of research grants - some hate this with a passion; for others it is the most important part of the magazine.

Many suggested a lively letters page would be a welcome addition - a suggestion we heartily endorse. All we need is your letters. Email us one today press@dundee.ac.uk

A topic to get you started: The first cuckoo has traditionally been the stuff of Times letters columns; the Indie has campaigned for the fast-disappearing sparrow. Has the University any bird life at all and if so, where is it? Are there twitchers in our midst? Is there a dawn chorus on your campus? Do feathered creatures nest on your windowsill? Has birdsong drowned out your lecture? Which of the four campuses - city centre, Ninewells, Kirkcaldy and Gardyne Road can claim the best bird stories?


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