When newspaper editors decide to “take the wire” instead of assigning staff to report a story, some consider it a compromise that could discourage regular readers.
Turns out, readers don’t mind at all.
A first-of-its-kind analysis using data from Northwestern University’s Medill Subscriber Engagement Index reveals that wire-service and syndicated content can help to develop reading habits and retain subscribers among light and very light readers. Even for the most ardent, heavier readers, wire content has a neutral — not negative — effect.
