Determines whether the public knows of the newspaper ombudsman's role, and probes the effects of calling a newspaper on public perceptions of the newspaper's interest in accuracy and correcting errors. Finds that people who call the ombudsman are satisfied with the response to their complaint. (RS)

Suggests the position of ombudsman is one that newspapers might create with internal success and acceptance from the other staff members. (RB)

A survey of 132 newspaper publishers revealed that only 15 percent had a full-time ombudsman on the staff but that there appeared to have been a broadening and strengthening of ombudsmen's responsibilities between 1967 and 1977. (GT)

Interviews with ombudsmen at 18 of the 22 United States daily newspapers that have ombudsmen programs reveal that programs were created for a variety of reasons: to raise the confidence of the reading public in newspapers, to help readers understand the intricacies involved in creating and maintaining the press, and to provide access to the press…