July 2010, From the Editor
We can hear you now
This issue starts out with a big thank you to all of our readers who responded to our recent survey. It’s been a bit of time since CRW reached out to take the pulse of our readership and your input helps us in so many ways, from how we plan our editorial calendar to our advertising efforts.
Sending out a reader survey is a bit like going on a blind date. You’re never quite sure what to expect or what the ultimate result will be. And even with some of our open-ended questions, you provided overwhelming thoughtful answers.
As I write this, I have on my desk the stack of the 395 responses to question No. 14: If you were the editor, what would you cover in Corporate Report Wisconsin?
Some of your comments made me laugh. Among my favorites:
• I wouldn’t have a clue! I’m not an editor!
• LOWERING TAXES
• What a disaster Wisconsin is
• I like you as you are. Living in Illinois I regret there is nothing like your publication in Illinois … After all Illinois is a special kind of state where being Governor includes prison time as a part of its retirement plan.
The most interesting thing about looking at the response to this question as a group is that I don’t disagree with a single comment or idea. Some have confirmed my thoughts as we begin our first look at the editorial calendar for 2011, from possible new topics to the need for more legislative/political coverage.
A few people also addressed the need to provide more coverage from outlying areas of the state. That’s a constant challenge for us, along with being perceived as a “Madison” magazine, but one that we continually work at. If you’re doing business in these areas, please toot your own horn and email me. It can be a quick email — an electronic head’s up — if you’d like. I’m constantly combing over chamber of commerce Web sites and newsletters, reading local newspapers, opening emailed press releases and actively seeking out businesses and initiatives that aren’t getting the coverage they deserve, but my efforts can only take me so far if your area or business isn’t promoting itself, too.
In fact, we’d like to try something new this summer. We’re looking for our readers to send in photos of themselves at their place of business or organization while holding a copy of our magazine. Outside, inside … one person or your entire staff, it doesn’t matter. Send it in an email or post it on our new Facebook page. Tell us who you are, what you do and where you are located.
I’d also like to congratulate all of the 2010 Best of Wisconsin Business Award winners. We’ll be publishing our complete list in the August issue, but you can see photos from the event on both our Web site and our Facebook page in the interim. And on behalf of the nearly 150 people who enjoyed another fabulous luncheon at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells, I’d like to thank our two sponsors of this event, Kalahari Resorts and Charter Business.
Laurie Arendt is editor of CRW. She can be reached at crweditor@crwmag.com