WHAT SECTIONS DO YOU READ: Over 65 percent of readers surveyed said they frequently or always read stories related to business, police/crime, letters to the editor and Heard on the Island. Other popular sections: questions posed to adults and kids, and real estate. The above chart presents a statistical summary of the paper’s most popular sections. The sections in gray indicate the highest percentage for that topic.

You told us what you want – more business news, more features on DI residents and business owners (coming soon). A stronger Web site. A desire for more hard news. An advice column (also, coming soon) and dozens of other terrific suggestions. We’re listening, and we’ll continue to do our best to deliver the kind of information that you desire.

Following are detailed results from The Daniel Island News Reader Survey – chock full of tips and insight – from you – on what a community paper is, and needs to be. This issue features Part I of the survey results, focusing on: 1. what you currently read; and 2. what thoughts you have about the paper. Future issues will unveil survey results on: 1. new features/columns/stories that you’d like to see; 2. your favorite hobbies; and 3. where you lived before you arrived on Daniel Island.

From the survey results, Daniel Island News readers clearly want more business and island news, and perhaps a touch less attention devoted to fishing and comics/quizzes and puzzle. That said, the vast majority of survey participants told us that the mix of stories generally appears in balance. Other noteworthy feedback: • Food – “You want to increase the emphasis on food on DI by having more ads from the places to eat and preferably have the ads emphasize a special or a coupon so reading your paper creates value in the mind of the dining public. It would help every other aspect of what you do as a paper.” • Food – “For a while, you were publishing a lot of recipes. That is not what I want to read in a local paper.” • People – “Great newspaper - keep it going - more articles about local persons and personalities.”

And, before we dive into the data, a special thank you to everyone who shared thoughts and offered suggestions – we’ve learned a great deal, and hope to continue doing so in the months and years ahead.

At press time, 115 readers completed the survey – 78 percent live here on the island, 41 percent are between 40-55 years old, 54 percent are female, and an impressive 63 percent told us that biking is one of their hobbies.