INDenverTimes provides update
The founders of INDenver Times announced
today
that
they
did
not
meet
their
initial
goal
of 50,000
subscribers
and
will
not
pursue
the
original
business
model
past
today’s
self‐imposed
deadline.
On
March
16,
30
journalists
from
the Rocky
Mountain
News
and
three
Denver entrepreneurs
announced
the
creation
of
INDenverTimes,
an
online,
real‐time local
news
source
formed
to
keep
the
spirit
of
the
Rocky
alive. Today,
April
23,
would
have
been
the
150th
anniversary
of
the
Rocky
Mountain
News,
which
closed
its
doors
Feb.
27.
INDT
will
not
charge
subscribers’
credit
cards
on
May
4
as
initially
intended.
A
decision about
the
future
of
the
INDT
Web site will
be
forthcoming.
The
entrepreneurial
backers
of
INDenverTimes
intend
to
move
forward
to
adapt
the
business
model.
“We’ve had an incredibly busy and exciting five weeks,” said Kevin Preblud, one of the three entrepreneurs.
“We are very grateful for the support and encouragement we have received from every corner of this community and we have confidence in the future of online journalism. While we did not meet our initial subscriber goal we made steady progress with all other metrics. We have confidence in the future of online journalism and will continue to explore alternative business models.
“There
is
a
long
list
of
online
media
outlets
that
are
working
hard
all
over
the
country
to
create
a
new
paradigm
that
will
transform
local journalism.”
Certain
members
of
the
INDT
newsroom
group,
led
by
co‐founder
Steve
Foster
and
business
writer
David
Milstead,
intend to
seek
backers
for
their
original
vision
of
a
robustly
staffed
online
newsroom. “We believe there is money to be made in local
journalism by local journalists, and that there is a unique opportunity in Denver in the wake of the closure of the Rocky Mountain News,” Milstead said.
“Without
question
the
heroes
in
our
story
are
INDT’s
journalists,” Preblud said. “They
believe
in
the
importance
of
local
journalism
and
have
worked
tirelessly
to
create
a
local
news
outlet
that
brings
insight,
perspective
and
a
unique
voice
to
the
people
of
Denver,”
Preblud said.
###
Contacts:
David Milstead
David.Milstead@indenvertimes.com
303.638.6291
Casey Nikoloric
Casey.Nikoloricindenvertimes.com
303.507.0510
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I hope you can find a model that works. I’ve enjoyed your work here so far and this is a project that deserves to go forward for lots of reasons.
6%? That’s all that would sign up is 6% of the goal of 50,000? Wow.
SlouchingtowardBoulder – Where does it say 6%?
50K is a very aggressive goal especially during these economic times. The fact that there is no money for marketing other than word of mouth adds greatly to the challenge. I hope InDenverTimes can adjust and stay in operation, but journalists need to put bread on the table too. Thank you for the sincere effort to keep balanced journalism in Denver.
Good luck with your new business model. A fresh online news source is always a good idea.
Check out, Westword. They have way more updates on what’s going down at INDENVER Times than INDT.com has. Kind of sad! They only got 3,000 subscribers and I’m very dissapointed. You would think that with a large base of former full-time Rocky subscribers that INDT would succeed. I think the website came so long after the loss of the Rocky and took nearly a month to develop into a decent/competitive one, really hurt INDT. Even a once a week print newspaper would have dramatically helped, I understand that printing costs are very high! It would have also helped to have staffers give a full preview of what subscribers would have gotten in the last week and more concrete news content, a larger variety of differing opinions, more photos/multimedia probably would have helped get more subscribers. I understand that the staff of INDT made an incredrible effort with volunteering their time and in the last 10 days, the website put up an incredrible showing with live chats, more photos, dynamic stories, etc. Opinions still were unbalanced and rare, which is why some of my friends didn’t subscribe.
Also, at times, news content appeared to be less than denverpost.com and 9news.com, when you want people to pay money to subscribe that just can’t happen. Hopefully, INDT will still succeed. I was a pledged subscriber and I hope that if INDT decides to continue, more people will continue to support this venture. The RMN was one of my favorite newspapers, let’s hope that the spirit of the Rocky will continue living here for a lot longer.
Wish the staff the best of luck, whatever happens.
Good luck…I have enjoyed what I see so far.
I’ve really enjoyed–and was trying to subscribe on Tuesday–your production. You have a great concept, well thought out format, and I hope you’ll reconsider not going forward. We–the people of Colorado–deserve more than one voice helping us understand the news, and educating ourselves to better help the world, our nation, our state, and our city. Please come back!
Don’t give up! In my 14 years of creating and growing online news ventures for newspapers, I have discovered that 6% of the print base seems to be about the right number of “core” online readers — those who fully embrace the online edition as strongly, or stronger, than the print edition.
I believe that ratio of online readers to print readers is about to change, drastically, however, in the next 12 months. Globalization and a more practical acceptance of the Internet as a tool, rather than a novelty, will propel it ahead of print journalism very soon.
I love the INDT, but in these times I can’t afford to pay for a newspaper. Hope you find a new backer or business model, I’d love to see this idea continued!
The empirical evidence doesn’t demonstrate it, but I have a feeling in my gut that this concept could work and that the time is right for it to work. Unfortunately, a serious amount of capital will be required to achieve the neceesary critical mass of subscribers for the investment to make sense, and normal business people don’t invest based on faith and gut feelings. Lots of news providers seeming to be dancing around the online pay news concept, and I think its only a matter of time before it finally succceeds. Too bad it appears it won’t start here!
Keep going steve!
Take a few days off because you’ve probably been working nonstop too. But then keep going! We’re rooting for you in seattle
Kery .Murakami/ seattleppostglobe. Formerly of the the seattle p-i
Hello once again,
Let’s hope that tonight’s announcement will allow for INDT to succeed. I’m truly disappointed with the results, as are many people who frequent this site. The transformation of this website into a robust and quite good website in one month is impressive, I truly hope that if INDT moves forward that it will continue to improve and will probably succeed, if given 6 months-1 year. So many people, who I talked to today didn’t even know about INDenver Times and I think that may have been part of the problem. The Rocky Mountain News used to be a great newspaper and I enjoyed some of the many features of INDT.com.
Unfortunately, I agree with Mark B. that people won’t subscribe based on promises. The current version of INDT has been up for only two weeks and I would say that it’s just competitive with the free denverpost.com, I subscribe to the print edition of the post. Many people complained that for $5/month INDT should be vastly superior to dp.com and it just wasn’t. I tried telling them that the journalists are only volunteering their time and the final product would be better, but it didn’t convince many of them. Some of them were surprised that INDT didn’t have news videos done by the staff, more columns, more premium content, and many of them said that they would have subscribed if all INDT would provide them was .pdf newspaper in the morning, very similar to what the Rocky Mountain News electronic edition provided.
I do not agree with all of the comments I have heard, but I’m just passing them along. I truly hope that INDT will survive in an enhanced form, I just wish that it has the chance to start up.
I inquired with IDT to better understand the functionality and user interface they would use for their site.
Specifically, I was willing to pay for access BUT with the caveat that it was without the online banners & ads as well as the ability to turn off/on user comments — perhaps through a premium level subscription. The reply I received from IDT stated “yours is an interesting question of functionality. Unfortunately, I don’t have an answer for you at this early stage”.
Those are a couple of basic questions about online subscription. Given IDTs reply, it seemed to me that IDT didn’t put much thought in to the end product. I was also a bit dismayed that their reply came from a generic email account and it was unsigned so it was like communicating with an anonymous person. I provided some follow-up thoughts and ideas but I didn’t even get a thank you or kiss my butt. So much for professional courtesy, gratitude and quality service.
… some additional thoughts and i’m outta here.
I very much liked what I initially on the IDT website… quality writing, diverse content and follow up articles, simple design — specifically the date/time when new articles were posted. However, those details were short lived as they vanished in a few weeks as the site design was modified.
The IDT concept seems very worthy and I believe there are sufficient numbers who want it to succeed. However, it seems to have been prematurely borne with nominal up-front development.
Denver is a bedrock of entrepreneurial spirit so I publicly suggest that IDT explores the potential of establishing a community volunteer advisory panel to help with developing multiple aspects of the concept BEFORE an attempt is made to re-launch. Best wishes.
We really appreciate your comments and are still moving forward. The writers and editors have done a tremendous job the past few weeks, against all odds, consistently working (yes, for free) while we tried to jump-start the way through this transition of the dying newspaper vs. new way information is consumed, how to deliver up-do-date content that is compelling and how to monetize the value of great journalism in a era of “free”. Keep coming back, yes… keep offering ideas. We are all in this together and welcome your thoughts on how to keep not only the spirit of the Rocky alive, but to keep our great tradition of journalism with the highest level of professionalism and integrity alive in this country.
This site is not done well at all. Westword all the way!
Oh yeah, here’s a tip. Get rid of the stupid redundant hovers on every article title. Geez.
Also, might I add that to call yourself “The No. 1 “site for insight”, perspective and news in Denver.” is a ridiculous falsehood. It’s also a well-known no no in web design and marketing. I can’t believe the lack of a professional presence here now that I bothered to look. What a hoot! It’s really funny.
Don’t give up! I’ve been vouching for you guys from the start and have loved each step of progress this venture has made. I know there is a solution, and I know if anybody can figure it out it’s you guys as long as you keep it up. 50,0000 subscribers was a robust initial benchmark to reach, so don’t look at today as a failure. It’s just another milestone in the journey.
You’re going to get this right.
I loved the In Denver Times, although I did feel like the most recent website update was a step backward toward an old-school newspaper site. The sale-able difference you offer is the interactivity and immediacy of an online venue. The problem, and I’ve been harping on this to anyone who would listen, is that journalists don’t know how to market or do PR!! I don’t know who you had helping you with marketing, but they didn’t do their job. The 50,000 subscribers was attainable, but where was the campaign?? Where were the ads? The mailings? The presentations to the Rotary Club? If you move forward in some other format, give me a call and I’ll VOLUNTEER my services to help get the word out.
Why do you allow nut cases with anonymous “names” like “Healtheenutt” post here? Anonymity is the opposite of credibility. What’s wrong with just using your name? Geez! I would like to consult INDT daily, but only if it is a credible source.
I second the motion posted by Robert D. Tonsing at Apr 23, 2009 at 5:43 PM.
Please keep trying to give us your voices. I miss the Rocky tremendously. I am trying to learn to go to the internet, but I really do mourn the loss of newspapers and the wonderful people of the Rocky. I’m hopeful that INDT can continue and I can find the people I used to read in the paper on my internet.
Sorry that you didn’t make your goal because I was looking forward to reading local news gathered by real reporters instead of wire copy and large photographs the other guys have. Good luck in whatever you folks decide to do. I hoped that my pledge would have not been in vain.
The 4th estate is essential for the long term viability of a democracy such are ours. Here’s to the preservation of a free press. Perhaps IDT will emerge in another form and continue to serve its purpose.
All the best.
H. Adams
The 4th estate is essential for the long term viability of a democracy such as ours. Here’s to the preservation of a free press. Perhaps IDT will emerge in another form and continue to serve its purpose.
All the best.
H. Adams
Hey guys, sorry you didn’t make your targets. Don’t know if you can figure out a way to get this to work or not, but good luck.
I gave the Post a chance after the Rocky closed, but it is still the Post. I canceled it yesterday. I will miss reading a paper everyday. Maybe I will get either the Los Angeles or New York Times, but the Denver Post isn’t getting it for me.
I am so sorry that the INDT didn’t make the goal of 50,000 online subscribers. It’s tough out there, especially for any kind of writing endeavors. I mourn the Rocky today on its would be 150 anniversary. But I rejoice in the future and I know that the good folks of the former Rocky will persevere and turn this crazy internet on it’s ear.
With all of you in spirit,
mnburchi
I was excited about the concept and enjoyed watching the the product develop over the last few weeks. The outcome is disappointing but you are certainly on the right track. The noticeable slide in quality by the Post will provide an opportunity for someone.
“But I rejoice in the future and I know that the good folks of the former Rocky will persevere and turn this crazy internet on it’s ear.”
Huh? They’re going to turn the WHOLE internet on it’s ear? That’s about as possible as the 50,000 subscribers. Pipe dreams.
Please don’t give up!! I grew up with the Rocky and I really want to see this site succeed. it’s hard times to launch anything right now, but don’t lose the faith. good luck creating this whole new business model;i agree that it has the potential to fill a needed niche of locality even in this globalized, internet age. if you do it right, yall will be on to some great things….
I am so sorry you didn’t meet the quota. Many of us would be willing to go door to door to get new subscribers or donate to a few hours wage for you to pay people to go door to door to get sign-ups. So many people just haven’t heard and don’t know. Have a brainstorming session and those of us on the outside help.
This town NEEDS the voices of Kevin Flynn, John Rebchook, and Mary Voelz Chandler to continue…please find a way! If the Post had hired them, instead of Vincent Carroll, I would have subscribed to the Post for the first time in years (Tina Griego and Mike Littwin are fine, but they’re just columnists)….but Singleton didn’t, and so I didn’t.
I’ll wait.
50k subscribers was a completely unrealistic goal – consumers do not pay for news anymore. get on the ad-supported bus and get off your “pay me for what i write” bandwagon. the news market is oversupplied. go read what jeff jarvis & clay shirky have to say, rethink your goals and revenue models, and then update us.
you have (a few) talented writers. not a lot of thinkers/strategists though. writers: kick the “biz” guys to the curb, hire 2 good web devs and do your own thing. profit.
Ok, here’s the first problem: The ‘paper’s’ name.
“The Rocky Mountain News” was founded with the idea of covering news across the Rocky Mt. region, including other states.
.
“InDenverTimes” is awkward sounding, awkward to type, sounds like you are only covering news in Denver, and worse, has a feel that is like a defunct Victorian penny novel. The acronym is unremarkable. We already have “The Denver Post” (Denver in the title), “The Denver Daily News” (Denver again in the title) both of which address the mindset of readers in the city of Denver. And Readers in Aurora, Littleton, Westminster, Boulder, etc. all have their own little local papers already.
Of course, we understand there are copyright issues with using anything even remotely sounding like “Rocky Mt. News” but has your legal counsel/copyright research uncovered anything like “Colorado Mt. News” or “Rocky Colorado Mt. News”… anything that sounds like it would interest the likes of other denizens of this massive state in far flung Durango, Vail, Weld County, Grand Junction, Pueblo, Rocky Ford, Colo Springs, Salida, the 4 Corners, you-get-the-idea?
What will differentiate YOUR product?
What makes them want to pay for your service?
What can you offer that is unique, something the others cannot do?
If you haven’t started there, at the basics, you can’t make your business model fit retroactively backwards.
I loved the Rocky, and have written to ask to help support your efforts.
But since news is FREE online now, and has been for over 10 years, how can you suddenly convince everyone to pay for it? It’s a dilemma worldwide.
for it to work, y’all have to sit down, brainstorm like there’s no tomorrow, and consult with a bunch of young people who are creating killer apps like Twitter, and find a new paradigm to get decent journalism to the people. Folks do want it, they really do. They’re tired of reading whatever just pulled off the wire, which is what the Post has to offer. They just want it in a new way, and will pay for it, if the value is there. A physical paper ported to HTML is not what modern people want, or need.
You’ve gotta get your name out there, and keep it out there. This is the first I’ve seen it since the original announcement. After that, it seems you dropped off the map. Hit your potential customers early and often. But that does take money, internet tie-ins, and advertising is not cheap. Maybe you do need to hire traditional newspaper ‘boys’ to go door to door to even tell people this idea exists.
Like Apple says, you have to think Different, and in this case, really Different!
There are a lot of people hungry for good journalism that encompasses local/state/regional interests.
All said, I hope the rifts can be healed, and wish you the best in success.
It just may not look like what you envisioned it. But do keep trying.
You are giving up too soon…give it a chance.
I guess I’m just old fashioned. For years I’ve enjoyed reading the morning paper while having breakfast. The RMN and now The Denver Post are my sources for getting local information since I don’t watch the local tv news. I also get a feed from CNN for national and world news. I work on computers for a living so spend most of my time typing and reading. The idea of going to a web page to find out what’s going on locally just doesn’t appeal to me. Would I have to buy a laptop to read over my breakfast? I subscribed to InDenverTimes, but if it had gone ahead I don’t know if I would have kept it. I think there’s still a real need for good journalism on print but I guess the economics just don’t work out. I canceled then reconsidered my subscription to the Post. I don’t consider it nearly as good as the Rocky, but I’m addicted to a morning paper. Maybe I’ll start re-reading WestWord.
I recognize that your timing was somewhat determined by the closure date of the Rocky Mountain News. But consider the following.
Many familis seeing bad times coming wanted to give their family one last “Good Christmas” before the bad times hit. Not talking about going into serious debt, but about something that soaks up a lot of your cash through the end of February or so.
April 15 is the legally set Income Tax Day. The readership of the Rocky tended to be more Conservative than the Post. There is some evidedence that this translates to more self employed workers with a corresponding predisposition to filing taxes on Tax Day. This both soaks up cash and perhaps more important as was the case with me, soaks up your attention.
If you had tried the experiment at a different time, say now until Memorial Day, I am sure you would get a different result with more people willing to subscribe.
The above points about needing to get the word about your operation out are very appropriate. Have you considered trying to work out an operating agreement with Fox 31? They would welcome the help in partially defraying newsroom costs, while you would get your efforts publicized on both Channels 2 and 31.
Good luck.
I would have donated my subscription cost rather than having it refunded (or not charged as the case may be), if there was such an option.
I realize you don’t want to appear to be begging, but there should be an option with a paypal donation link somewhere for those of us willing to support the endeavor, even at this stage.
Provide a method for people to donate to the site while you work out kinks. If you didn’t meet the 50,000 goal, scale back and see what can be done. Again, put a voluntary donation button somewhere and you will at least get a few dollars toward the light bill or the cost of the domain name.
Newspapers are going through a hard time, but it is an evolution, too. InDenverTimes might be at the forefront, but a couple months is no way near enough time for this to grow and succeed.
Hope you hang around a while and see if the idea can be nurtured into something successful. Rooting for you.
I was really hoping that Denver could get a news outlet instead of more propaganda. If ever someone figures this out they will make a lot of money.
“I would have donated my subscription cost rather than having it refunded (or not charged as the case may be), if there was such an option.”
Ditto.
I have never respected the Post, even less so after reading their excerpts printed in “The Principled Politician” (an excellent book about a difficult time in Colorado’s history). Ironically, at that time (WWII) they were the “Republican” paper. Clearly, politics has little to do with the integrity (or lack thereof) at the Post.
With no competition to keep them in check, I can’t imagine they will improve.
Denver:
Ask not for whom the bell tolls – it tolls for thee.
Mary Morris
North Park Hill
p.s. – in response to Robert D. Tonsing, who does have something of a point, I am printing my full name here. In my case, however, there are about a dozen people in Denver named “Mary Morris”, hence the unique moniker. I shortened it to “marymor” because it was easier to type, but I have no shame in putting my name to anything I’ve said anywhere on this site. -m