You asked, we listened: How your feedback is shaping Putney.news

Dear Readers,

When we launched Putney.news, we promised to be different – not just in what we cover, but in how we operate. That means being transparent, accountable, and listening to the community we serve.

Today, we’re sharing the results of our reader survey and, more importantly, showing how your feedback is directly shaping our journalism.

The headlines

First, thank you. Your average rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars tells us we’re on the right track. But more valuable than the score are your detailed comments about what works, what doesn’t, and what you need from local journalism.

Here’s what stood out:

• 90% of you want breaking news – You’ve made it clear this is our most important job
• 71% value our council coverage – Holding local government accountable matters
• 84% are happy with our email frequency – Though some want options, which we’re addressing

What you told us we’re doing right

Note: We’re using first names only to protect our readers’ privacy

Many of you told us we’re filling a critical gap. As Jane put it: “I feel so much better informed on local issues now.”

You particularly value:

• Our investigative work on traffic, development funding, and council decisions
• The quality and depth of our writing
• How quickly we get breaking news to you
• Our independence and willingness to ask difficult questions

Tony summed it up: “It’s great to see a revival of good old-fashioned local news and investigative reporting.”

What we’ve already changed based on your feedback

1. Weekly digest for those who want it

When 10% of you said daily emails were too much, we listened.
What we did: We launched a Sunday weekly digest on June 29th. Every Sunday since, those who prefer less frequency get a comprehensive roundup. You can switch anytime – though 84% of you prefer the daily updates, and we’re sticking with that as our main offering.

2. Breaking news alerts when it matters

You said you’d welcome more emails if there was genuine breaking news.
What we did: We’ve sent four breaking news alerts since September:

• When fire engines shut down Putney High Street (Sept 22)
• When Queen Mary’s Minor Injuries Unit was saved from closure (Sept 25)
• When a perfect storm of travel chaos hit (Oct 20)
• When temporary lights failed causing gridlock to Fulham (Oct 27)

We think we’ve found the sweet spot – only alerting you when news is both important AND time-sensitive.

3. Real Images, Not AI

Jacqueline asked for “real images and not AI slop.”
What we did: We now use real photographs for all serious news stories. When we do use AI-generated images for lighter pieces, we watermark them clearly. You’ve probably noticed this change over the past two weeks.

4. More Varied Coverage

Many of you wanted more than just investigations – restaurant openings, local events, human interest stories.
What we did: We’ve brought on new writers who naturally gravitate toward lifestyle and community stories. You’re already seeing more coverage of restaurant openings, local events, and helpful services alongside our investigations.

5. Better Email Timing

You asked for consistency rather than random timing.
What we did: After the clocks changed, we experimented with timing. From next week, your daily email will arrive at 7:30 AM – our data shows this is the sweet spot for most of you.

6. Easier Ways to Contribute

You wanted clearer ways to send tips and share events.
What we did: We’ve introduced a simple story tip form and a community event form. We’re also experimenting with polls and planning more data journalism.

The tough feedback (and our response)

Not everyone loves everything we do, and that’s okay. A small minority (about 3%) feel we’re too critical of the council. Gerry called us “an anti-Council campaign site.”

Here’s our position: We’re not anti-council, we’re pro-accountability. We were actually surprised that 71% of you value our council coverage – it’s your second-highest priority after breaking news. That tells us this accountability journalism matters to you.

Yes, it’s been depressingly easy to find stories pointing to uncaring, unthinking, sometimes incompetent local government. We intend to continue shining a light on these instances because, as the saying goes, “sunlight is the best disinfectant.”

But there’s hope. Among some terrible councillors, there are genuine public servants. We’ll promote their efforts while challenging those who aren’t serving you properly. The same goes for council staff – we won’t stand for incompetence or cruelty, but we’ll also recognise those working hard in complex circumstances.

When a cabinet member posted a video calling us “fake news” after we reported his department had threatened to evict an 82-year-old because she criticised him on Facebook – we stand by that story. The council quietly backed off the threat after our reporting.

Or when the council leader stopped talking to us after we reported on £10,000 deputy posts being handed out seemingly tied to an internal election – that’s exactly why local journalism matters. As another saying goes: “News is what someone wants suppressed. Everything else is just advertising.”

What we’re still working on

Your feedback has given us a clear roadmap for what’s next:

Currently in progress:

• Expanding our events guide (already underway)
• More data journalism and reader polls
• Better crime and courts coverage (though the courts system is fundamentally broken and getting information is incredibly difficult)
• Working with police who, like councils, have gotten out of the habit of answering tough questions from local journalists

Coming soon:

• More community achievements and positive stories
• Expanded coverage through our new writers
• Continued refinement of our breaking news threshold

The bigger picture: The death of local journalism has created a real accountability gap in society. We exist to fill that gap. Your support – and your feedback – helps ensure we do it right.

A personal note

When Angus wrote, “You’re covering such important local issues that no one else touches,” it reminded us why we started this.

When Gerry said we’re too critical of the council, it reminded us to constantly check our balance.

When Susan offered to write about local shops, it reminded us that community journalism is a collaborative effort.

Every piece of feedback matters. This isn’t just about making Putney.news better – it’s about ensuring local democracy has the information infrastructure it needs to function.

Keep talking to us

This survey is just one way we listen. You can always:

• Reply to any newsletter with thoughts
• Send tips to news@putney.news
• Take polls on key issues

We’re building this together. Your subscription isn’t just supporting journalism – it’s shaping it.

Thank you for trusting us with your inbox, your time, and your community’s stories.

Kieren McCarthy
Editor, Putney.news

P.S. To those who wrote simply “Just keep going!” and “Nothing, it’s fine as it is” – we hear you too. We won’t fix what isn’t broken. But we will keep pushing to be better.

The Full Data

In the interest of complete transparency, here are the survey results:

Overall satisfaction: 4.4/5 stars (74 responses)

• 5 stars: 51%
• 4 stars: 35%
• 3 stars: 12%
• 2 stars: 1%
• 1 star: 0%

Email frequency: 84% happy, 10% want less, 6% want more breaking news

Content preferences:

1. Breaking news (90%)
2. Council articles (71%)
3. Deep dives (50%)
4. Culture/going out (40%)
5. Light pieces (25%)
6. Business (21%)
7. Sport (5%)