As you might imagine, numerous letters, phone calls and e-mails stream into my office that address The Advertiser's quality, some of them complimentary, but much of them critical.

The range of topics is so vast that it's impossible to group them into a few simple categories. But in general, readers take issue with (or occasionally praise) our writing and editing, the placement (or absence) of stories on Page One, the slant of editorials (or perceived slant of news stories), the accuracy of stories or headlines and the changes we make to news content. One avid reader comes down to the office and we pore over stacks of papers that he has critiqued.

Most readers don't leave their names and numbers to complain or compliment but when they do, I take special care to respond either by phone or e-mail.

Concerns about individual items in the newspaper are always important to review, but when someone takes the time to write about the overall quality of the paper or our online operation, it feels like a report card on how we are doing, so I pay close attention.

A few weeks back, I received two thoughtful e-mails at almost the exact same time that I'll share today. The first, from a registered nurse, struck a nerve.

"Over the past several weeks, I've noticed a steady decline in the number of newsworthy articles," she wrote. "Granted the paper was never stellar to begin with, and it always amazed my husband and I how quickly we could get through the entire paper. I realize Mondays are slow news days, but today, the entire front section spanned eight pages. The entire newspaper was 56 pages, including ads.

"I'm uncertain as to whether it is due to lack of writers, lack of finances or a combination of both. Certainly it isn't due to lack of news because the Internet is flooded with news. I guess we're an old fashioned family and enjoy a good newspaper."

The reader said her father was unhappy with the new format of the business section but she and her family were grading all of The Advertiser and found it lacking. She pointed out that her husband reads many Mainland newspapers and "the weakness of our local paper becomes evident" placed against those papers, which she did not name.

Rather than get defensive about her comment, I replied to each of her concerns. I explained why we had changed the business section (explained here in detail Sept. 9 at www.honoluluadvertiser.com/afterdeadline090907) and also mentioned how advertising has a great deal of impact on the size of the paper.

I agreed that on some days — Mondays especially — the paper feels thin. But I also pointed out that The Advertiser has some of the highest reader satisfaction scores out of the 85 or so in our company and that we have the third-highest percentage in the country of newspapers that reach adult readers.

The second e-mail, from a local businessman, was more encouraging.

"My guess is that much of the mail you receive takes the form of complaints," he wrote "My intent here is the opposite — to express my belief that the content of your newspaper has improved markedly of late, and to compliment you on this. I read your paper for the local news. Other news, be it international, national or financial, I can and do read elsewhere. So when the local stories have a perspective that is both original and independent, as the Advertiser's have, they become worthwhile, enjoyable, and necessary reading."

The reader complimented us on the depth of our Hawaii Superferry coverage. I believe our stories have been exceptional so it was nice that someone had noticed and thought enough to write us.

"Happily, this is one of numerous examples I've noticed in recent months where investigative reporting has been backed by an unwillingness to accept the usual explanation — that things here are the way they are because Hawai'i is unique and thus different. My thanks to you and your editorial staff for making the paper a better one."

I thanked the businessman for his comments. The registered nurse has not written back after several weeks, but I hope she does. I told her I was interested in the kinds of articles she would like to see and which Mainland newspapers she preferred.

I always look for feedback about The Advertiser, and most of you are not shy about letting me know. Please know that it is always considered and much appreciated.