In today’s Courier-Herald, we’re asking you, our readers, to tell us what you want from your hometown newspaper.

For the next two months, we are featuring an online survey which will help us shape our product, and understand how our community does business as we partner with local merchants and other advertisers to foster a strong local economy.

Share your views with us, and you will be entered for a $1,000 cash drawing and a $500 gift certificate for Fred Meyer.

“If you’ve ever wanted more from our paper, this is your chance to tell us,” said Courier-Herald Publisher Brennan Purtzer. “We can’t serve you unless we know you.”

Partnering with us is Pulse Research of Portland, Ore., an independent firm that works with media and retailers nationwide.

The survey is on our website at (courierherald.com or blscourierherald.com), and will provide valuable feedback to Courier-Herald staff: What you enjoy about your newspaper? What would you like to see changed? How can we better serve the community?

It will also help your local businesses better market their goods and services.

Questions include reader preferences for local news and other media; consumer preferences for local and regional shopping; household purchasing plans for goods and services; your family choices for entertainment and travel; and basic household demographic information.

We ask you to log on to our website to take the survey. All responses will be kept confidential.

“At the core of our business model is you,” Purtzer said. “How can we know your thoughts if you don’t share them with us?”