The Rocky Mountain News is Closing Because of Corporate Malpractice

Final Edition from Matthew Roberts on Vimeo.

The Rocky is the only one of the 20 papers in the Scripps chain that was unprofitable in 2008. After 150 years, Scripps closed it today.

Last year was the first year in its recent history that the Rocky has been unprofitable. Just the year before, it had made $44 million. The other 19 papers in the chain provided Scripps with a more than adequate cushion to see the Rocky through a recession. The corporation has given no explanation for this.

Website of the staffers who organized: I Want My Rocky

Below is the statement by Colorado Common Cause:

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For Immediate Release:
February 26, 2009

Contact: (303) 292-2163 office
http://www.ColoradoCommonCause.org

Statement on the Closing of the Rocky Mountain News
Jenny Rose Flanagan, Executive Director of Colorado Common Cause

Denver—It’s a sad day in Colorado. Over the last 150 years, the Rocky Mountain News has established a strong tradition of reporting on the local issues that matter to Coloradans. From award-winning investigative reporting to their distinctive political perspective on the editorial pages, the Rocky has been a consistent voice on the issues of the day.

While we will mourn the loss of the Rocky, we are troubled by what this loss means for the future of journalism in Colorado and beyond. The Rocky Mountain News is not the first newspaper to announce plans to close in recent months, and unfortunately, it won’t be the last. The Rocky’s closure is more than the loss of a single newspaper, it’s just one example of a failing model for the news industry. Although print media has become less popular, the desire—and need—for diverse and independent journalism has not.

An informed citizenry requires a diverse and independent media. Newspapers have long been the medium to connect neighbors, inform communities, and give us the information necessary to hold government leaders accountable. As more Coloradans choose to get their news online, we must ensure that the news they get continues to meet the standards set by the Rocky Mountain News and other print media.

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Colorado Common Cause is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization working for open, honest, and accountable government. For more information, visit http://www.ColoradoCommonCause.org