Originally, I did not intend to write a blog post with as strong of a statement, but I think it is well deserved.  Denver Post simply sucks at listening to its readers.  Anyone who looks at comments on some of its poorly written online content can see and understand that the content of the newspaper is very poor.

I am not here to bash the newspaper, I just want to highlight that Denver Post needs to listen to its readers and start providing more useful and relevant content.

Here are some examples of very poorly written content.  Apparently, even after the bashing received by writing poor articles in Summer/Fall of 2009, Denver Post has yet to learn.  The JR Smith article was posted on January 28, 2010.  Maybe we should all write to the editor.

1. "J.R. trade likely just a dream" Article by Mark Kizla Draws Readers' Ire and Support for JR Smith

The journalist bashes JR Smith, the local basketball player who is in the midst of a shooting funk and dealing with some issues relating to the death of his best friend while he was driving drunk during the off-season.  If you read the comments, the readers and fans seem to feel quite differently about JR.

For background information, JR Smith is a 24/25 year old shooting guard on the Denver Nuggets and can shoot the lights out.  He averages nearly 15 points off the bench, and when he gets the "hot hand", he is one of the best offensive players in the league (ask Utah Jazz all-star guard Deron Williams and coaches around the NBA).  He spreads the floor with his three-point shooting and is a big part of Nuggets success, despite his often immature actions.

Anyway, check out these reader responses as comments (16/17 latest comments defend JR and bash Kizla):

• I just sent an email to an editor at the Denver Post: gmoore@denverpost.com... I am so sick of the articles that I have been reading by Benjamin Hockman and Mark Kiszla, about the Denver Nuggets and the slandering comments about J.R. Smith.  ...quite frankly I am appalled that they have been allowed to be printed everyday. What kind of reporters do you hire there?
• You're the loser. This article sucks.
• Why dont we trade Kiszla for another cheerleader or another waterboy !!! What an Idiot and SHAME on you Denver Post for putting this garbage in your paper !!
• Pure garbage. Enough said.
• No articles about Chuancey being the western conference player of the week. Nothing about Afflalo's good play lately, on offense and defense. Nothing about our recent win streak. Just more JR bashing by the denver post staff. The nuggets coverage is sad.
• It's perplexing to me that anyone with a pen can berate and deride another at will and call it journalism. This paper has constantly tried to paint JR as a killer, a thug and a miscreant. I would suggest that the writer of the article look in the mirror and consider how they would fare if such an unforgiving, harsh light were turned on them.

2. "Revamped "D" Preserves Win" Article Creates Birth of New Nickname for Denver Post: The DENVER COMPOST

Early in 2009-2010 football season, Denver Broncos pull off an upset win against one of the very best teams in the league.  Broncos fans are excited about the win and the prospects for the year.  They log into Denver Post to read about the win and talk about the win with others via comments, etc.  However, they are hugely disappointed to find the "Broncos" section hardly has news on the Denver Broncos and that the Denver Post (now nicknamed Denver Compost) has created a "Premium" section where they write about Broncos.

Fans are not happy with the quality of content and this article seems to push people over the edge.  It's really too bad that Denver Post still has not responded to this issue even today.  Either management has no clue what to do or they simply do not care.

Here are some of the latest responses and the first comment by the readers to the article (note ALL 11 comments were negative):

• Sorry DP. This is really sorry stuff here. You should be embarrassed as journalists.
• "Denver Compost" hahahahahahaha watch out there, you may get banned for an abusive post
• they now have it where you go to the "premium" area for broncos news...ooooh
• ANOTHER SORRY EFFORT BY THE DENVER COMPOST !!!!
• Looks like the DP content management system is signed up to scroll stories about any NFL football as is comes in the wires. They really need to separate this off into a clear category to show it is general NFL news and not Broncos related, since it is confusing and annoying. But what do know, I just manage the creation of content heavy websites based on feeds for a living...
• TOP BRONCO'S STORIES:
  Broncos win opener at Cincy
  Revamped "D" preserves win
  McNabb cracks rib; Delhomme inept
  McCown goes down with late injury to left knee
  Passing game brings surprise
  Sanchez impressive in NFL debut
  WELL, AT LEAST ONE OF THE "STORIES" IS ABOUT THE BRONCO'S....
• Uh... wrong story, or wrong paper?

Maybe, we should all write to the Denver Post Editor.

Does management/editors care?  Or, do they just not know what to do?  If it is the latter, all they need to do is start asking experts in the field or, better yet, the fans who read the newspapers.  It seems the fans are already basically telling Denver Post what to do.  The only problem is that they are not listening... either because they don't know what to do or because they just don't care.

I wrote a letter.  I encourage you to write as well.  Below is a copy of the letter I sent to

Dear DP Editor,

I completely agree with the few dozen commentators that the content quality of DP is suffering big time.  There are bloggers who can write much more interesting and engaging stuff than poor quality such as one demonstrated here: http://www.denverpost.com/nuggets/ci_14283055

I really hope you guys get it right.  I hope you act sooner, rather than later.

If you want to throw ideas around, feel free to call me.  As an owner of an internet marketing & web development company and blogger with 3-4 websites, I probably have a few ideas that might be helpful.

Take care!
MC

Hopefully, Denver Post figures itself out and we can all go back to reading and enjoying some very good articles.