[Editors] Research about paper vs electronic newsletters?

[Jean Foster]

Hi editors,

As an editor of the Academic Computing Insider newsletter, and in light
of the current budget situation here at MIT, I'm becoming concerned
about the survival of newsletters in paper format.  I believe we will
soon have to justify why we aren't just publishing on the Web or via
e-mail.  I believe that there are a significant number of readers who
prefer paper, but I have no proof of this and would like to have this
confirmed (or not) before I try to fight this fight.

Does anyone on this list know of any current research done about the
value of publishing newsletters in paper format, comparisons of how
people prefer to read such materials, or even surveys done on campus
that would be relevant to this issue? 

I would even welcome a discussion about this issue on the list.

(I feel like a bit of a lurker on this list since I have never made it
to one of your meetings since they conflict with my regular staff
meeting.  I do hope to make it to an editor's meeting soon since we've
just rescheduled the staff meetings!)

-jean-

-------------------------------------
Jean Foster
Team Leader, Academic Computing Support
617.253.3909, jfoster at mit.edu, N42-040F