Denver Post readers should have noticed by now that three new sections have been introduced in recent weeks: $mart, OutWest and Home.
Monday brings $mart, which uses the Business and Lifestyles staff to create a section that (in the Post’s words) “fuses business news and lifestyles storytelling to help readers navigate consumer culture.”
That’s smart in several ways. Monday Business sections have always suffered because little business news occurs over the weekend. The result is a section filled with unfocused wire copy and thumb-sucker stories that don’t move the needle for readers. Integrating with Lifestyles spreads the workload at a paper where staffs are stretched thin. And, oh yes, this combines two sections into one, tightening news hole on a day when fewer ads seem to be sold.
In the case of Out West, the effort seems to rest more with Lifestyles (especially Kyle Wagner, who’s wrangling the section) to create a section that “feature the adventures available around the state, along with tips on how to make them happen. We’ll showcase stories from locals involved in health, wellness and outdoor pursuits on all levels.”
Home resides on Saturdays and promises to, among other things, “take you inside homes full of meaning and inspiration … profile the makers and shakers who are changing or reviving traditions.”
Mind you, none of these ideas are new. The Rocky Mountain News (remember them? Today is the three-year anniversary of its closing) produced similar sections in its day. But each of these revisions shows that the Post is trying to deliver a product that’s more local, more closely aligned with its readers. And in these days when the web is stealing eyeballs and advertising, delivering a unique product is not just a good business model, it’s a good survival strategy.
What do you think of the changes? Share your thoughts.
Ask R&R Media today how they can help you with media relations, crisis management, social media and other communication needs.