[The New York Times, October 1, 2022.]
For a while I never noticed the new reading-time estimates that accompany Times headlines. Now I can’t help noticing them, and I’m aghast. Seeing an estimate attached to a review of two books about attention and technology makes my ironymeter go haywire.
Hey Times: are you helping matters, or making them worse?
[Coming soon: some thoughts about the Axios-themed book Smart Brevity.]
Saturday, October 1, 2022
“5 MIN READ”
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comments: 5
I first noticed this on the online Hakai Magazine, which focuses on the Pacific coastal environment. A typical article there might say "750 words, about 3 minutes." Perhaps the idea is that if you know you won't be committing yourself to more than that you'll be more likely to start reading.
i have seen times connected to articles even on the web. what does that mean to tell me how long it takes to read? what if i read faster than the given time or slower? why tell me how long it takes to read.
in high school we were required to take the Evelyn Wood reading test. i read too fast for them but my comprehension levels were also high. even today i can read an article very fast, retain most of it and still have to wait for people to catch up!!
why do people not like those of us who read and read and read?
kirsten
I’m going to guess that Axios might be the prime mover here — they apparently consult with all kinds of businesses about boosting reader engagement
I’m such a slow reader — fast if I’m reading aloud, but slow reading a page. I’m still on the July issue of The Atlantic. Reading time: 17 hours?!
When students send me rough drafts via Word Online, it gives me the estimated reading time, usually three to four minutes. I laugh and laugh. And 35-45 minutes later, I return their essay.
I sometimes tried using a timer when reading essays — no more than (I think) twenty minutes each. I could never keep to it. One reason I started having conferences for every essay in a writing class is that it let me read and comment much more rapidly, and then spend time talking about the essay with the student. Which ended up taking more time, but felt less taxing.
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