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

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.

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.

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 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.