Reader question

A reader asks, "Have you ever thought about asking your readers what they want and what they don't want? Or do you just assume that you know what's best?"
It's a fair question. The answer is -- it depends.
There is a balancing act between giving readers what they want and want they need. An old editor of mine said that we need to give readers information that they don't have but need to know. We and other organizations do surveys of readers' interests, and hold reader workshops where local residents give their input. Sometimes, the information we get and put into effect angers other readers. A simpler, and informal, survey is done practically everyday. It's the phones calls we get. Trust me, we listen.