Assessment of Current News Analysis and Research Service (CNARS) Early Bird and Early Bird Supplement

The purpose of this study was to assist the Current News Analysis and Research Service CNARS in ensuring that the information needs of its DoD audience are being met by two publications, Current News Early Bird and its Supplement. In this IDA effort, readership surveys were planned, conducted, and analyzed. The questionnaire that evolved from this effort elicited responses concerning distribution, consent, and availability of the publications and demographic information about the readers. Results show that both Early Bird and Supplement are read overwhelmingly by members of the Armed Services. The vast majority of respondents provided high ratings of effectiveness for both, and most noted their ability to inform readers of DoD information that assists them with their jobs. Most respondents held the officer ranks of 04-06, noted affiliation with the Army or Air Force, and held positions described as Manager or Action Officer. Results also indicate that a large proportion of Early Bird and Supplement readers receive these publications through indirect means, outside the distribution channels employed by the CNARS staff the actual number of readers is nearly twice as large as the 8,000 copies produced each day. The research team recommends that future survey efforts involving this audience explore alternate methods of survey distribution to obtain data from the large audience of indirect recipients.