Editor’s note: The following is a transcript of a live chat with Denver Post Editor Greg Moore. The chat took place Wednesday, December 20.
Greg_Moore: Hello, its good to be here. I look forward to our dialogue today. This is my first chat so do be kind but ask anything you’d like.
DenverPost moderator: Thanks for joining us today for a live chat with Denver Post Editor Greg Moore. Greg, here is your first question …
lola: Will there ever be just one major daily newspaper in Denver?
Greg_Moore: I hope not. Denver is blessed to have two very competitive newspapers. And I believe we keep each other on our toes. The beneficiary is the reading public.
edrbones: How do you measure success at the Denver Post? Ad dollars? Circulation? Prizes?
Greg_Moore: Interesting question. By one measure, if I enjoy reading the paper each morning. Another is day to day how we measure up against our competitors. But clearly, as a business enterprise we have to be a successful vehicle for advertising. And circulation gains and prizes count too.
Lynn: Why has the Denver Post sold out to the ethically questionable fur industry by allowing advertising by fur retailers in the paper?
Greg_Moore: You know I have no control over advertising or who is allowed to advertise in the paper. But I imagine as a business vehicle for promoting businesses and services you have to be careful about what you rope off. Newspapers don’t accept cigarette advertising but there are very few other things off limits. You may not like fur but there are people out there who do but this is really a matter you need to take up with the corporate owners of this newspaper.
bb: Hey Greg, besides Romanesko’s stuff, what blogs do you read?
Greg_Moore: Huffington Post; Journalisms, by Richard Price. I look at other websites but not particularly a lot of blogs. I do read Al Lewis’ blog.
lola: What is your favorite or most-compelling Denver Post story of 2006?
Greg_Moore: The effect of foreclosures on the real estate market.
jenny: How has the advent of the Internet as a legitimate news medium affected your newspaper and your newsroom?
Greg_Moore: Its put us on a 24 hour news cycle, forced us to re-think what the next days newspaper will be with an emphasis on what we can bring to the table that is fresh. On the other hand the internet offers us immediacy and limitless space. I feel like we have the opportunity to not only be a newspaper but a television and radio station too. And that is exciting.
bb: What do you admire about the Rocky Mountain News?
Greg_Moore: Their photography.
edrbones: Who do you think is the Post’s must-read columnist?
Greg_Moore: Jim Spencer because he is funny, empathetic, and he can roast some behind when its deserved.
edrbones: What’s the biggest challenge facing the newspaper industry today?
Greg_Moore: How to attract the next generation of loyal readers.
xman: Have you ever hollered, “Stop the presses!”?
Greg_Moore: You know, that really doesn’t happen that much in newspapers. First off, its very expensive to stop and restart the presses. But I did it once in Boston and there is no greater feeling.
xman: How important is sports coverage to The Denver Post?
Greg_Moore: Its funny but the readership of the sports section is not nearly as high as one would think. Its mostly a male readership. But none the less its very important to the paper. Its a loyal readership and sports is an integral aspect to how a community views itself. I can’t imagine a newspaper without a sports section.
E@MDRX: Why is the Denver Post unable consistently to consistently unable to distinguish the concepts of Medical savings accounts, health savings accounts and flexible spending accounts? Are you aware of the differences or is it politically motivated?
Greg_Moore: Well it certainly isn’t politically motivated. And I’m not even sure I accept the premiss of your question. But as complaints go I certainly will look into this and if we need to do more explanatory journalism on this issue , I assure you we will.
bb: What are a couple things on your wish list for the Post?
Greg_Moore: More color throughout the newspaper and better photography thats really compelling. Of course I already got one of my really big wishes: a fabulous new building thats created a great work environment for all Post employees.
GLB: I’m teaching our Media Management class in the spring. Managers are decision makers. What suggestions would you make young managers, particularly of newspapers in balancing journalism values, technology, training, content, etc.?
Greg_Moore: Thats a very interesting question. First, those things really can’t be balanced. Fidelity to journalism values of honesty, integrity and independence are paramount. However, our ability to do good journalism is heavily impacted by technology and training and as managers its important to have the very best technology and to invest heavily in good and constant training in order to do high impact and relevant journalism. Thats what I think for starters.
jenny: How’d you feel earlier this year when the News won two Pulitzers from a writer that used to work for the Post?
Greg_Moore: I am on the Pulitzer Board and thought the News deserved those Pulitzers. When you are in a competitive situation it is always tough when something like that happens. I am a gracious person and congratulated the Rocky. I told my staff that their win proves that good journalism will be rewarded wherever it is practiced. As far as the writer is concerned, I feel he got good training here.
McK: What have you learned from the yourhub.com experiment?
Greg_Moore: I’ve learned that people want to participate directly in the marketplace of ideas and discourse. Every day the yourhub experiment proves that participatory journalism is here to stay.
sgr: What are some of the biggest stories you’ve handled in your career?
Greg_Moore: They are way too numerous to count. But the Charles Stuart case in Boston is my biggest.
sgr: What do you think are some of the biggest differences between the Post and the Rocky?
Greg_Moore: Size of the papers, how we view world and national news, our writing styles are quite different, and our think our stable of columnists is pretty impressive. I think they do a very good job on photography. And they do a good job of injecting whimsy into their coverage. I want us to have more fun.
sgr: What is the Post doing to connect with readers, in an age when there are so many alternative sources for information?
Greg_Moore: Thats where the internet comes in. We want to invite readers to converse more. And to tell us what they think. The internet allows us to do that. In addition I am trying constantly not to just edit the newspaper based on whats IMPORTANT, but to edit the paper based on what’s INTERESTING to people. If we do that and have information that helps people in their lives, then I think we connect.
DenverPost moderator: Thanks everyone for the great questions and thanks to Greg for participating in today’s chat. Here is the last question.
karen: What do you do personally to connect with readers of the state and find out what stories might be of interest to them?
Greg_Moore: We have reporters deployed around the state, which is a real distinction between us and the News. And so we have a pretty good sense of the things they look to The Post for. One thing I hope to do in the next year is to get around the state and meet some of our readers and hear what’s on their minds. I know my reporters would like that too. Maybe I’ll even see you.
DenverPost moderator: A transcript of this chat will be available shortly at denverpost.com. Happy holidays!
