Press: Why NIC Budget Matters

The Press recently completed two weeks of phone surveying, talking to more than 300 subscribers about front-page stories in the newspaper. Of all the stories published on Page 1 in that span, one showed an alarming lack of interest. It was the story about North Idaho College proposing a $44 million budget. Big numbers in government — heck, numbers of any kind — tend to put many readers to sleep. The word “budget,” veteran journalists know, is one of the least sexy important words there is. But when 26 subscribers were asked about that NIC budget story and not one of them said they’d read the whole thing - only three so much as scanned it - that told a story all its own. And it’s a sad tale/ Coeur d’Alene Press Editorial Board . More here.

Question: Do you pay attention to budget stories involving local government?