BLOG: Official announcement at Rocky

Rocky Mountain News

Published February 26, 2009 at 12:03 p.m.
Updated February 26, 2009 at 12:41 p.m.

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Staffers at the Rocky Mountain News gathered in the newsroom at noon for an announcement on its future. Tomorrow will be the final edition, Scripps execs have announced. Here's how the news unfolded:

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.

Staffers will receive regular pay between now and April 28, they will remain on the books and on the payroll;

For Guild folks: the company si going into this with the best of intentions, Contreras says.

12:13 p.m.

Q: Public trust. Did you try to have discussions on a different model to sustain the Rocky Mountain News?

Boehne: I honestly don’t know. Can only work within the restraints that you have. Might have been a nice alternative to do something different with it.

How long is it going to take to get ahead of the debt we have today? There was an enormous economic challenge just to get even. We have to protect the future of all the newspapers we have. We did not see anything economically viable.

We had a little bit of interest in sales. One person who showed enough interest, and then withdrew.

We were told this cold take $50, $100 million just to stay in the game. We couldn’t do that.

12:16 p.m.

Faces are glum all around the newsroom as Contreras says Denver isn’t the only market going through these mechanisms as newspapers struggle to survive. We spent a lot of time looking at different ways for this to end, he said.

12:17 p.m.

Contreras: “our intentions are good” to take care of our employees.

Boehne: “We are going in with good intentions, and that would include severance.”

John Temple says: “Our labor lawyer is talking to union officials right now about this.

Union members are told to contact officials about this.

12:19 p.m.

Boehne: “Our 50 percent of ownership of DNA will be rolled into” the arrangement to close. “We’re not paying them, they’re not paying us. The idea that anyone is paying anything in this environment” doesn’t make sense.

This is nothing like any experience any of us have ever had.

12:23 p.m.

The mood in the room is getting nastier and bitter, reporters wondering if the execs tried hard enough to save the paper or put pressure on the Rocky Mountain News.

Boehne: John’s direction is to go out and find jobs.

Temple: Tomorrow will be the last day of work for most people. Come back Friday for loose ends.

12:25 p.m.

Temple: Friday is the last day we’ll have access to the computer system.

Mark: WARN Act notice kicks in Feb. 27, to April 28.

Anything involving severance takes effect after that.

Temple: Another meeting today at 4:30 p.m. Won’t have to deal with ADP (new online payroll system) after tomorrow. That evokes loud applause.

Today we will produce an amazing newspaper (for tomorrow), Temple says. He hopes by tomorrow "we can tell you about a big party Saturday night."

12:27 p.m.

Boehne – We will retain the Rocky’s intellectual property, masthead, rights to rockymountainnews.com, etc.

Temple: Plan for the website; it would not need to be upgraded; it will allow people to come and hear the story of the Rocky Mountain News.

Boehne: Our goal is the archives to be open to everybody.

Temple: If you have earned vacation, of course you’ll be paid for it.

12:29 p.m.

Reporters have questions about access to archives, etc.

Temple says after this meeting we are going to focus on putting out a great newspaper for Friday.

Then, we’ll talk again about wrapping things up.

12:30 p.m.

Staffer Steve Haigh asks: can you communicate to us .. we never heard anything from you; we appreciate your patience etc.; you should never do that again.

Boehne: We relied on John (Temple) as your leader.

12:31 p.m.

Question: You didn’t try very hard. Other markets have tried harder.

Boehne: There is no other place like Denver that had two completely different newsrooms competing for revenue.

12:32 p.m.

Q: The Denver Post seems in worst shape than us. They need to borrow money to meet payroll. Why didn’t they close?

Boehne: That’s up to Dean (Singleton) (ed note: owner of the Denver Post.) We knew that this market wasn’t viable for us.

12:33 p.m.

Boehne says nothing was certain until this week.

You go back five days, I didn’t know how this was going to turn out.

Other markets have sought protection from courts.

12:35 p.m.

Quick question: Why didn’t you?

Boehne: We are a partnership, it takes two. That’s a good question for … the Denver Post.

Mark: There’s a third partner here, a wild card, the Justice Department:

He said that made it more complicated.

Boehne said nobody stepped up in the community to help save the Rocky.

12:37 p.m.

Temple: Rocky’s e-mail system will stay open only through Friday.

Q: Reporters said they’ve been working hard all week on Saturday stories: Can we have one more day?

A: No.

12:39 p.m.

Boehne: I could say really stupid things like I know how your feel. I don’t. All I can say is that I’m deeply sorry.

Temple: This is a really sad end to a beautiful thing. You guys have done a fantastic job between December 4 and today; people outside could not tell from looking at it the personal struggles.

We have one last shot at producing a great newspaper. Let’s do it.

It’s like being given the chance to play the music at your own funeral.

We'll be wrapping the paper with a 52-page section about the Rocky Mountain News.

12:42 p.m.

The execs from Cincinnati stop talking.

Temple outlines Friday’s paper; small business section, very small sports section. Big front section.

All the columnists will write, he said.

We’ll bring in food tonight. Really try to put the polish on this paper so last edition will be something you’re really proud of.

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Comments

February 26, 2009

12:39 p.m.

Suggest removal

windskull writes:

I SAID KEEP THE ROCKY DUMP THE POST SCREW YOU SCRIPPS I AM DELETING MY PROFILE AND I WILL BE SENDING EVERY DENVER POST LEFT IN MY YARD BACK TO YOU VIA POSTAL MAIL COD!
February 26, 2009

12:39 p.m.

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carlTran writes:

Ah well, time to blamestorm: http://whokilledtherocky.com/
February 26, 2009

12:49 p.m.

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Xtina writes:

This makes me so very sad. The Rocky is what I have read since I could read the paper.. I can't stand the Post...
February 26, 2009

12:53 p.m.

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Dylan_Smith writes:

From one dying newspaper to another - we'll raise a glass for you folks.

Dylan Smith
Online Editor
TucsonCitizen.com
February 26, 2009

12:59 p.m.

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mootobaby writes:

People not subscribing let down the Rocky Mountain News, and it doesn't help that newspapers give away their content online. You want to keep your local newspaper? Subscribe ...
February 26, 2009

1:20 p.m.

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hlucki writes:

I read the Rocky ever since I started readin the newspaper as well. I've been a subcribed for as long as I can remember. I hated it when the changed to the Post on weekends. Told myself, it's just for 2 days a week. Now I will cancel my subscription. The Post is pathetic. I'll switch to USA Today. it's not local, but at least it's not the Post.
February 26, 2009

1:36 p.m.

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Lorraine writes:

"People not subscribing let down the Rocky Mountain News, and it doesn't help that newspapers give away their content online. You want to keep your local newspaper? Subscribe ..."

Subscriptions aren't the key, advertising is, that's why the broadsheet is a more successful format - more space for ads. And a lot of ad revenue has moved online.
February 26, 2009

1:49 p.m.

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LBCsurfgoddess writes:

This stinks to High Hevean! The RMN is the only paper smart enough to have a tabloid format, so I can enjoy a coffe (of breakfast) and read at the same time. The Post is a rag... I hope someone buys the RMN, for it is just two days shy of 150 years old. It was the first paper in the Colorado area.

This Eastern Greenhorn let us down. And remember Greenhorn is cowoy for KOOK!
February 26, 2009

2:02 p.m.

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was_from_colorado writes:

Must be Obama's fault
February 26, 2009

3:02 p.m.

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WitchyPoo writes:

So sorry to hear the Tucson Citizen is dying too ~ it was the paper I relied on when I lived in Tucson years ago. And the Rocky....man, I remember reading the Sunday edition at my grandparents house as a kid...We should all wear black tomorrow in mourning for the passage of a giant.
February 26, 2009

4:15 p.m.

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hkwhite writes:

I can't believe it...Scripps quit to easily..The Post stinks
What the hell
February 26, 2009

4:26 p.m.

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P_Denver writes:

'Bye, News. We'll miss ya.
February 26, 2009

4:45 p.m.

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Ortolan writes:

Man, what a bummer. Absolutely heartbreaking. Maybe somebody can string something together at the 11th hour? An injunction? A dark horse savior at the last moment? Denver will never be the same without the Rocky. Seriously, it won't.

Good luck everyone. I will keep my fingers crossed for a last minute miracle.
February 26, 2009

5:25 p.m.

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jersey writes:

DAMN! Like losing a dear friend. Been subscribing ever since I hit town 28 years ago. Although all good things eventually come to an end your demise is extremely premature. Best wishes and best of luck to all who made the ONLY PAPER in town a joy to read! It's been one helluva enjoyable ride!
February 26, 2009

5:49 p.m.

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mrt1999 writes:

To say the Rocky was never profitable is not accurate. It was making money, and the #1 paper in circulation in the '80s. I was there and one of the few people with access to the financials. The Rocky isn't dead & buried yet, and already we've got bad information. Wait till Saturday. Bt the way, keep your Post and stick it.

Thanks Rocky, you always gave us the light.
February 26, 2009

6:05 p.m.

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westsidechan writes:

Cry.
February 26, 2009

7:24 p.m.

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NOPOST writes:

Dean "Silmpleton" finally got what he wanted! As a former employee, I quit when the DNA was created. I knew with Dean Simpleton running the show, he would run the Rocky out of town.
BOYCOTT THE POST, IT IS THE WORST PAPER EVER.
February 26, 2009

7:34 p.m.

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ktlmn writes:

This is sad. I will never forget getting up at 4:30 am delivering the Rocky Mountain News to 120 houses in rain, snow and hail. From 4th grade to 8th grade that is how I made money to buy my first car. I always hated the broadsheet style of the Post. I left Denver 22 years ago... when did they start calling it the Rocky?
February 26, 2009

8:23 p.m.

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AZCrunch writes:

Sorry, but I'm a bit bitter about this. Scripps seems to only care about its broadcasting endeavors and in essence knew that they were going to close the Rocky. They only wanted to give the semblance that they were trying to do something...ask the Albuquerque Tribune. It was hard, but the Trib being an afternoon did not help. However, the Rocky was a way better paper and had more to offer Denver...but Scripps could care less. To all of you at the Rocky, kudos a plenty. You fought well...too bad corporate America did not think likewise.
February 26, 2009

8:48 p.m.

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demmud writes:

To borrow from kcuster who said : the lighthouse is dark today.

I am incredibly sad. I feel as if I lost family today. My paper. I have lost my paper.
February 27, 2009

9:29 a.m.

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concernednconifer writes:

For us natives , I think this is truly a sad day indeed. The writing was on the wall the day the Denver Newspaper Agency was created. The Rocky Mountain News represented the heartbeat of
Colorado, I grew up reading John Coit, Gene Amole, Greg Lopez to name a few that have gone. It seems to me that we have sold our soul to Corporate America, a local ownership would have started addressing the problem long ago, searched out more creative solutions. How about non-profit or Co-op ? Scaled down, anything is preferable to this.... and I'm sorry to say this , but we all know that the Post blows. It has always lacked depth, I don't know one actual reader that prefers broadsheet. Truly a sad day for colorado.... I hope all of the great staff and reporters find work and continue to do what they do best, it was obvious that it was a labor of love, we will miss you all, good luck.
February 27, 2009

9:35 a.m.

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Firemuseumguy writes:

I developed a love affair with our Rocky Mountain News back in the late fifties when we delivered it from our bikes equiped with special handle bars and wheel guards for the spokes. It was a very cold and snowy day back when Colorado celebrated it's 100th anniversary for the territory and a special 'book' was with the regular paper and because it was so important to be delivered it was then that I learned it was a piece of history everyday. It was important then as a job to me and now as a piece of lost history for our city. It was the voice of reason for most occassions and the diversity it displayed was above reproach. So sorry to see it go and for the record I shall NOT subscribe to the Post because Denver with the Post is like a city without a paper anyway.

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BLOG: Official announcement at Rocky

Rocky Mountain News

Published February 26, 2009 at 12:03 p.m.Updated February 26, 2009 at 12:41 p.m.

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Published February 26, 2009 at 12:03 p.m.
Updated February 26, 2009 at 12:41 p.m.