Death of a newspaper – blow by blow

By Julie Starr | Published: February 28, 2009

An excerpt from a blow-by-blow blogpost about how the decision to close the Rocky Mountain News was communicated to staff.

Noon

Precisely at noon, dozens of editors and reporters gather around the interactive desk, buzzing about an announcement. Two top Scripps executives have arrived from Cincinnati, perhaps bringing crucial new information about the future of the Rocky Mountain News, which was put up for sale in early December.

12:05 p.m.

There are more smiles than frowns, but the smiles are of the nervous variety. Our videographers and still photographers are in ready mode. One of the figures who is getting the most glances is Randall Roberts, who heads Human Resources for the Rocky.

Staffers have heard so many bad rumors about the demise of the paper that they have stopped believing any. But there’s something different about today …

12:06 p.m.

Editor John Temple introduces Rich Boehne and Mark Contreras; CEO and senior VP of newspapers.

Rich Boehne: Tomorrow will be the final edition of the Rocky Mountain News.

Certainly not good news for any of you; or for Denver, he says.

12:07 p.m.

While you were out doing your part the business model changed and you became a victim.

Why the Rocky and not the Post? Denver can’t support two newspapers any longer; especially two morning general interest, 7-day delivery papers, Boehne says.

Broadsheet is an advantage and that paper that has the established Sunday edition, factors favoring the Post, Boehne said

There’s no room to take economic risks in this climate.

Survival favors the broadsheet. We don’t own the broadsheet, he says.

12:08 p.m.

If it was going to be just one, the broadsheet and the Sunday paper is the one that is likely to survive. They have a tremendous challenge ahead of them … to make it in this environment

12:10 p.m.

Mark Contreras says its like talking to the kids explaining a divorce. The passion and creativity of your work has captured imagination of everyone at Scripps; awards, Pulitzers, the Rocky is always at the top of that list

But the unfortunate reality is how metro newspapers make money in 2009 is vastly different than it was just a year ago.

That is not your fault.

Read the rest here.

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  • http://jimtucker.wordpress.com/2009/02/28/multimedia-training/ Message to Fred – can you please enlighten your newspaper colleagues about multimedia training « Tuckr

    [...] and the owner has kept its broadsheet sister, the Denver Post, in preference.  Here’s a link to Julie Starr’s item on this latest closure (she links to a 24-hour blog account of the [...]

  • Dale Szabl

    It’s not surprising. I am a janitor today because all of my previous professional positions were downsized “blow by blow” over a few years time. I have a Masters’ degree with practical applications directly with all the professionals I worked with around the COUNTRY, and have not found another like Training and Development position since 2004.
    Everywhere I went, the people urged more jobs to go overseas and use comoputers to save costs everywhere! Please remember the news cast phrase “Wall Street Cheers the news that this and that company have cut costs by closing entire facilities and operations.”
    It’s incredible how we all hate our own countrymen and women so much that we have rushed them all out of jobs as fast as possible. Maybe while I wait for another professional Training job I should be glad I am a janitor.

    Dale in Milwaukee