2 Popular Columnists Among Surprise Layoffs At Denver Post

DENVER (CBS4) - There were some surprise layoffs at The Denver Post on Wednesday and two long-time popular columnists are out.

Management hasn't said anything official, but Penny Parker and Mike Littwin say they are stunned to be out of a job. Both were brought over to the Post when the Rocky Mountain News shut down.

It used to be places like the Tattered Cover stocked stacks of newspapers in their stores, but not anymore. The industry is changing and that may be partially to blame for why Parker and Littwin are out of work.

"To wake up in the morning and not know what you're going to do is so weird," Parker said. "It's awful. I don't want it to end."

Parker has shared with readers her private thoughts even as she went through treatments for breast cancer.

"I never thought I would connect to a group of people I didn't know, like I did then," Parker said.

Littwin liked to stir the pot, challenging people to think about everyday issues on a deeper level. His colleagues said he just lost his mother to a heart attack and is not ready to talk about his job loss.

"I think it's a shame. I read both of their columns," a man said.

Readership is down in newspapers across the country and staffs are shrinking.

"I don't read newspapers too much. If I do read newspapers it's usually online newspapers," another man said.

After nearly three decades in the newspaper business, Parker will try to put a career of words into one final, succinct column on Sunday.

"I am the luckiest human being on the planet. I feel that way, I really do," Parker said.

Managers at the The Denver Post say they can't comment about the columnists since it's a personnel issue.