This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/apr/21/readers-editor-margaret-thatcher-death

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
The readers' editor on… the space we devoted to the late Margaret Thatcher The readers' editor on… the space we devoted to the late Margaret Thatcher
(5 months later)
A warning: this column is about the death of Margaret Thatcher.A warning: this column is about the death of Margaret Thatcher.
Many readers will sigh at this point, because scores of them have said in letters to the editor that they think there has been far too much coverage in the Guardian. In addition, many considered the coverage insufficiently critical.Many readers will sigh at this point, because scores of them have said in letters to the editor that they think there has been far too much coverage in the Guardian. In addition, many considered the coverage insufficiently critical.
Here are three of the many letters received the day after her funeral, when the Guardian had 15 pages of coverage in print plus additional material online:Here are three of the many letters received the day after her funeral, when the Guardian had 15 pages of coverage in print plus additional material online:
"I believe you owe me 70p … the cost of half of today's Guardian that I have now binned ... Enough Iron Lady to satisfy your soft Tory readers ... too much for the rest of us ... Not to mention another silly foldover advert! Might be an Indie reader if it weren't for Steve Bell ...""I believe you owe me 70p … the cost of half of today's Guardian that I have now binned ... Enough Iron Lady to satisfy your soft Tory readers ... too much for the rest of us ... Not to mention another silly foldover advert! Might be an Indie reader if it weren't for Steve Bell ..."
And here is another: "Many thanks for the splendid coverage of Baroness Thatcher's funeral, being the entire banner heading, pages two to five and a super, commemorative eight-page picture pull-out. I do look forward to the imminent merger of your august organ with the Daily Mail or the Lady."And here is another: "Many thanks for the splendid coverage of Baroness Thatcher's funeral, being the entire banner heading, pages two to five and a super, commemorative eight-page picture pull-out. I do look forward to the imminent merger of your august organ with the Daily Mail or the Lady."
Finally: "They say that the devil has the best tunes. It's a pity that the Guardian has to whistle them, too."Finally: "They say that the devil has the best tunes. It's a pity that the Guardian has to whistle them, too."
Internally, the issue of too much – rather than too favourable – was raised at the Guardian's editorial morning conference by Polly Toynbee, who made a broader point: "I do think the Guardian has a tendency to go big on these things in print because we can, we have the writers and the editors to do it, but I don't think readers necessarily want all that."Internally, the issue of too much – rather than too favourable – was raised at the Guardian's editorial morning conference by Polly Toynbee, who made a broader point: "I do think the Guardian has a tendency to go big on these things in print because we can, we have the writers and the editors to do it, but I don't think readers necessarily want all that."
One measure of what people want is the sales figures for the paper. Lady Thatcher's death was, in sales terms, a quality newspaper story. Newspapers don't release the details of their internal research on sales figures but I can say that the Guardian received a 25% uplift in newspaper sales the day after her death was announced, the largest percentage rise of any newspaper, although not in absolute sales. Away from the quality market, the effect appears much less marked, which I find surprising.One measure of what people want is the sales figures for the paper. Lady Thatcher's death was, in sales terms, a quality newspaper story. Newspapers don't release the details of their internal research on sales figures but I can say that the Guardian received a 25% uplift in newspaper sales the day after her death was announced, the largest percentage rise of any newspaper, although not in absolute sales. Away from the quality market, the effect appears much less marked, which I find surprising.
Online on the day Lady Thatcher died, 8 April 2013, content tagged as "Margaret Thatcher" on the Guardian site received 2,095,395 page views and 1,277,032 unique browsers. In total we had 18,387,183 page views that day and 5,400,599 unique browsers. A column by Glenn Greenwald discussing the etiquette of speaking ill of the dead in relation to Thatcher was the most popular that day, with 457,758 unique browsers.Online on the day Lady Thatcher died, 8 April 2013, content tagged as "Margaret Thatcher" on the Guardian site received 2,095,395 page views and 1,277,032 unique browsers. In total we had 18,387,183 page views that day and 5,400,599 unique browsers. A column by Glenn Greenwald discussing the etiquette of speaking ill of the dead in relation to Thatcher was the most popular that day, with 457,758 unique browsers.
It could be argued that if readers were dismayed by the coverage they would peel away in the run-up to the funeral but there were increased print sales and high traffic on the site during that period.It could be argued that if readers were dismayed by the coverage they would peel away in the run-up to the funeral but there were increased print sales and high traffic on the site during that period.
Online statistics for the whole week beginning 7 April are: 4,696,441 unique browsers saw Thatcher content and the top story was a Russell Brand feature, which got 1,227,584 unique browsers over the week.Online statistics for the whole week beginning 7 April are: 4,696,441 unique browsers saw Thatcher content and the top story was a Russell Brand feature, which got 1,227,584 unique browsers over the week.
There is clearly a conflict between the scores of readers writing to say things such as, "Yes we want the paper back. We have reached Thatcheration level!", and the extra sales and online traffic.There is clearly a conflict between the scores of readers writing to say things such as, "Yes we want the paper back. We have reached Thatcheration level!", and the extra sales and online traffic.
One theory is that people turned to the Guardian to provide an alternative view of her legacy in the days following her death. I think in the first few days the Guardian's coverage was less challenging than it could have been. The post-funeral coverage had a more balanced view, with extensive reports from around the country of the events held by those protesting against her legacy.One theory is that people turned to the Guardian to provide an alternative view of her legacy in the days following her death. I think in the first few days the Guardian's coverage was less challenging than it could have been. The post-funeral coverage had a more balanced view, with extensive reports from around the country of the events held by those protesting against her legacy.
When trying to find the reasons behind the exceptional jump in traffic and sales, and the many complaints about the scale of coverage, one danger is in making an assumption that Guardian readers are a homogenous group.When trying to find the reasons behind the exceptional jump in traffic and sales, and the many complaints about the scale of coverage, one danger is in making an assumption that Guardian readers are a homogenous group.
There are 53,000 readers who subscribe to the Guardian six or seven days a week. Many complainants identified themselves as subscribers, who tend to be readers of very long standing, within and beyond Thatcher's period of office. However, there is also a very substantial part of the readership that is made up of occasional buyers, two or three days a week; if a more detailed analysis were to be undertaken, I suspect it is that group that has been dipping in and out.There are 53,000 readers who subscribe to the Guardian six or seven days a week. Many complainants identified themselves as subscribers, who tend to be readers of very long standing, within and beyond Thatcher's period of office. However, there is also a very substantial part of the readership that is made up of occasional buyers, two or three days a week; if a more detailed analysis were to be undertaken, I suspect it is that group that has been dipping in and out.
But now it is over. I will leave the last word to a reader I suspect is from the former group: "Is it safe to come out from behind the curtains now?"But now it is over. I will leave the last word to a reader I suspect is from the former group: "Is it safe to come out from behind the curtains now?"
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.