Fate of Rocky Mountain News to be announced

[daveevansedge]

I always thought Dave was perhaps the most versatile guy on the Rocky staff. And I sent him an email last night telling him so. He's excellent, and his above statement is spot-freakin' on.

[Tracy Ringolsby]

I hope Tracy pulls out the corporate card, racks up a $1,000 tab at Fleming's and then buys two first-class tickets back to Denver so his hat can have its own seat.

Heck, the rodeo is in Tucson this weekend, and I am not big on white table clothes. The Silver Saddle, now that's a steak place.
Thanks Mizzou grad.
By the way on Litton -- if someone doesn't hire him that is a huge loss. Wonderful human being but even better cartoonist with a feel for the moment and the subject.
Ditto on Legwold. He ranks up with my man Goose in Dallas and Alex Marvez as the best I have ever seen handle that NFL beat.

[luckyducky]

I don't want to take anything away from the RMN, but I went to check on the P-I's site and the RMN story headline reads: "Rocky Mountain News publishes final edition, P-I may be next to go"
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/401728_rocky28.html

Now, that's a copy editor telling it like it is.

The AP story, with "information from P-I staff" also includes this graf:
The P-I could see its final edition come next month. Executives from The Hearst Corp., owners of the P-I, announced in early January that they were selling the paper. If a buyer had not emerged within 60 days, the paper could shut down. Since then, the staff of the P-I has been in the dark regarding when, if any, a final edition would be published.

And for those who haven't seen the P-I's version of blogging its own funeral, that can be found here: http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/thebigblog/category.asp?blogID=174&category=2225

[Mizzougrad96]

This thread isn't the right place, but the stories of the feuds between the writers/editors at both papers are legendary. Woody alluded to it in his column, but I'd be surprised if any market could match the bad blood, which from what I've heard was all pre JOA.

[Drip]

This thread isn't the right place, but the stories of the feuds between the writers/editors at both papers are legendary. Woody alluded to it in his column, but I'd be surprised if any market could match the bad blood, which from what I've heard was all pre JOA.

Mizzou, whenever you have competition, there are those who take it to the extreme.  Denver was rough but hell Dallas, Philly, New York, Houston, Chicago,  even Atlanta and South Florida were all pretty tough back in the day.

[As The Crow Flies]

Met Jeff Legwold at a Denver Broncos practice when I was out doing a feature for my paper three or four years ago. Despite the fact I was a nobody, he couldn't have been nicer. Ever since then I kept up on his work and was always impressed. It just sucks to see people who are really good at what they do lose their jobs through no fault of their own...

[Tracy Ringolsby]

Dallas Times Herald published its last issue on Dec. 9, 1991. A Monday, oddly enough. Many of the sports staff were at a Cowboys game that day.

At my age the memory gets fuzzy, but it was Sunday Dec. 8, 1991 that the Morning News purchased the Times Herald, and I do not believe they published a paper that evening. The final edition was that morning, nobody knowing that it would be the final edition. I can remember being at the winter meetings and being the one who told the Times Herald writer, and our Mavericks writer told the Time Herald Mavericks write about it that night in LA where the Mavs were playing the Lakers. If I am wrong about that I stand corrected, but I pretty much remember that.

[Tracy Ringolsby]

This thread isn't the right place, but the stories of the feuds between the writers/editors at both papers are legendary. Woody alluded to it in his column, but I'd be surprised if any market could match the bad blood, which from what I've heard was all pre JOA.

Mizzou, whenever you have competition, there are those who take it to the extreme.  Denver was rough but hell Dallas, Philly, New York, Houston, Chicago,  even Atlanta and South Florida were all pretty tough back in the day.

I wouldn't say Dallas was tough. Dallas was fun. The three papers had a great deal of respect for each other and at the time the ownership wasn't afriad to spend money. To this date among my closest friends are Phil Rogers, who covered the Rangers for the Times Herald most of the time I was in Dallas, and Paul Hagen, who was on the beat for Fort Worth when I first moved to Dallas. We traveled together, shared rides to the ballpark, ate together and believe it or not had a few cocktails together. What we never did was share a sliver of news and we never talked about who had what story. We would talk about the team and news of the day just like everyone else who read the papers. No, Dallas was great fun. Seattle in the early 80s was good. LA in the late 70s was different but professional respectful.

[Mizzougrad96]

Met Jeff Legwold at a Denver Broncos practice when I was out doing a feature for my paper three or four years ago. Despite the fact I was a nobody, he couldn't have been nicer. Ever since then I kept up on his work and was always impressed. It just sucks to see people who are really good at what they do lose their jobs through no fault of their own...

Legwold is good people... So is Rasizer...

[Mizzougrad96]

This thread isn't the right place, but the stories of the feuds between the writers/editors at both papers are legendary. Woody alluded to it in his column, but I'd be surprised if any market could match the bad blood, which from what I've heard was all pre JOA.

Mizzou, whenever you have competition, there are those who take it to the extreme.  Denver was rough but hell Dallas, Philly, New York, Houston, Chicago,  even Atlanta and South Florida were all pretty tough back in the day.

I wouldn't say Dallas was tough. Dallas was fun. The three papers had a great deal of respect for each other and at the time the ownership wasn't afriad to spend money. To this date among my closest friends are Phil Rogers, who covered the Rangers for the Times Herald most of the time I was in Dallas, and Paul Hagen, who was on the beat for Fort Worth when I first moved to Dallas. We traveled together, shared rides to the ballpark, ate together and believe it or not had a few cocktails together. What we never did was share a sliver of news and we never talked about who had what story. We would talk about the team and news of the day just like everyone else who read the papers. No, Dallas was great fun. Seattle in the early 80s was good. LA in the late 70s was different but professional respectful.

There were several crazy feuds between Post and Rocky employees back in the day. I'm under the impression that departures, beat changes and the JOA have calmed things considerably over the last decade.

[SF_Express]

Simers had his moments with the competition during his Broncos beat days.

[Frank_Ridgeway]

Simers had his moments with the competition during his Broncos beat days.

IIRC, the Post had to double-team him to keep up.

[Joe Williams]

I recall hearing about some serious friction on the Nuggets back in the day, maybe in the Krieger vs. Mike Monroe period?

[Fenian_Bastard]

I see we're at the point in the wake where the whiskey's taken hold and folks are telling the old stories again.
Good to see.

[ArnoldBabar]

Love this section from the AP story on the Rocky:

Ed Atorino, a newspaper industry analyst at The Benchmark Co., said that indicates the News could become an online-only venture at some point.

"Online newspapers seem to be doing pretty well," he said. "It's a very low-cost business."

Yeah, if you don't hire reporters.

[BYH]

Love this section from the AP story on the Rocky:

Ed Atorino, a newspaper industry analyst at The Benchmark Co., said that indicates the News could become an online-only venture at some point.

"Online newspapers seem to be doing pretty well," he said. "It's a very low-cost business."

Yeah, if you don't hire reporters.

That blew my mind too.

Citizen journalists. Or unpaid interns. One or the other.

[Drip]

This thread isn't the right place, but the stories of the feuds between the writers/editors at both papers are legendary. Woody alluded to it in his column, but I'd be surprised if any market could match the bad blood, which from what I've heard was all pre JOA.

Mizzou, whenever you have competition, there are those who take it to the extreme.  Denver was rough but hell Dallas, Philly, New York, Houston, Chicago,  even Atlanta and South Florida were all pretty tough back in the day.

I wouldn't say Dallas was tough. Dallas was fun. The three papers had a great deal of respect for each other and at the time the ownership wasn't afriad to spend money. To this date among my closest friends are Phil Rogers, who covered the Rangers for the Times Herald most of the time I was in Dallas, and Paul Hagen, who was on the beat for Fort Worth when I first moved to Dallas. We traveled together, shared rides to the ballpark, ate together and believe it or not had a few cocktails together. What we never did was share a sliver of news and we never talked about who had what story. We would talk about the team and news of the day just like everyone else who read the papers. No, Dallas was great fun. Seattle in the early 80s was good. LA in the late 70s was different but professional respectful.

Tracy mentioned two of the better guys you are going to meet in this business in Phil and Paul. One of the things I remember about the good old days was the notes network. Made for great Sunday reads in many municipalities.

[JBHawkEye]

From Eddie Pells' AP commentary that was on the wire earlier this afternoon.

On Friday, the competition ended. The tabloid has gone away and there will be only one option in Denver for those who want to know a little more than what they learned when they watched the game on TV, heard the score on cable, read about it on the Internet.
Every day, with news of bankruptcy filings, vanishing advertising dollars, the Internet replacing newsprint, stories are filled with quotes from experts sounding warnings about how having fewer options is worse for the readers.
In Denver, we now get a chance to learn about it firsthand.
And for those who grew up reading a newspaper in the Rocky Mountains, that walk to the patio will never be the same.

[Fudgie the Whale]

I wish I was working preps there. The last story would have been a 50 pt hed:

HEY PARENTS, FUCK YOU!

No one gives a shit about your kids' team or their accomplishments.

[andyouare?]

What struck me about the front page photo is the wedding ring. I wonder how many weekends, nights, birthday parties, holidays, guys (and gals) like him have given up; how understanding his wife is of his schedule because she knows it's his passion and what he loves.

And now. . .what? He goes home thinking in 60 days, what about the mortgage, bills, child care, etc.? Now what?

Fortunately, talented, hard-working people almost always land on their feet, but, damn.

[Mizzougrad96]

What struck me about the front page photo is the wedding ring. I wonder how many weekends, nights, birthday parties, holidays, guys (and gals) like him have given up; how understanding his wife is of his schedule because she knows it's his passion and what he loves.

And now. . .what? He goes home thinking in 60 days, what about the mortgage, bills, child care, etc.? Now what?

Fortunately, talented, hard-working people almost always land on their feet, but, damn.

There are a lot of incredible journalists out there who haven't landed on their feet. Unfortunately, journalism isn't the only industry that's in bad shape.

Those who find jobs in journalism will almost certainly have to move. Those who don't move will almost certainly be out of journalism and working for a fraction of what they were.

[BYH]

Those who find jobs in journalism will almost certainly have to move. Those who don't move will almost certainly be out of journalism and working for a fraction of what they were.

I wouldn't be so sure of that. Hard to find an industry that pays shittier than this one.

The problem, and I speak from personal experience, is that some of us are still stupid enough to be willing to take less to do something we enjoy...even if we get Shawshanked every goddamn day.

[Drip]

Those who find jobs in journalism will almost certainly have to move. Those who don't move will almost certainly be out of journalism and working for a fraction of what they were.

I wouldn't be so sure of that. Hard to find an industry that pays shittier than this one.

The problem, and I speak from personal experience, is that some of us are still stupid enough to be willing to take less to do something we enjoy...even if we get Shawshanked every goddamn day.

Short sweet and definiely to the point.
 I like the shawhank line.

[Mizzougrad96]

Those who find jobs in journalism will almost certainly have to move. Those who don't move will almost certainly be out of journalism and working for a fraction of what they were.

I wouldn't be so sure of that. Hard to find an industry that pays shittier than this one.

The problem, and I speak from personal experience, is that some of us are still stupid enough to be willing to take less to do something we enjoy...even if we get Shawshanked every goddamn day.

The Rocky was a union shop, so I'm guessing the employees there did pretty well, at least by industry standards.

[MileHigh]

So, that's it, folks. The desk is cleared out. The In-N-Out sticker is coming with me. I snagged a framed compilation of front pages from when the Broncos won their first Super Bowl out of the sports editor's office. The five years' worth of stuff that I've compiled is in the car. The Scripps booklet on the code of ethics is in the recycle bin.

The sports sign over the department has been cut down and given to the sports editor. The parking pass has been turned in. The financial papers have been signed so they know where to find me.

Wow. This really is going to be hard. I've been trying to hold this in, but it's going to start coming out, I think.

I no longer work for a newspaper. It's the first time I can say that since I was in the eighth grade. It's a sick and sad feeling. But hopeful, too, for the future.

There have been lots of hugs and tears. Laughs and pats on the back. Well wishes continue to come in. The mayor stopped by. The governor was here last night. People sent food. Flowers.

It's starting to thin out here at 101 W. Colfax, Suite 500. I'm not far behind. I will walk out with my best friend, who was in the now infamous photo of me that apparently ran in the New York Times this morning.

It really is a death. And we're all family. We're all going our separate ways. We say we'll stay in touch, and I think many will. But our one link together -- attempting to put out the best damn paper in Denver, hell, in the country, a paper that has won many Pulitzers in the past decade -- is gone.

After 150 years, minus 55 days.

On the scrap heap of history.

There will be a big party tomorrow night at a downtown bar. Spouses and family can come. Alcohol is free. I will miss it because of a previously planned trip. But I will be there in spirit.

I worked for this great institution -- the oldest business in Colorado -- for 5 years, 1 month and 16 days. When I walked into the old building on Jan. 12, 2004, I had never been more proud of myself. My lifelong dream, living and working in Denver, had finally come true though my hard work and effort after more than 15 years in the business. It wasn't handed to me. I earned it.

I said it before, I'll say it again: I have no regrets. I have no bitterness toward anyone or any company. I can look back on this time and hold my head high. With the work I did. The friends I have met. The things I have learned.

Someone asked a few pages back for my favorite memories. I don't know where to begin because there are so many. Every Broncos Sunday in the fall was like a Super Bowl night with the stuff we did. The AFC Championship Game in January 2006. The World Series in 2007. The Democratic National Convention in 2008.

The afternoon of Dec. 30, 2008. We were trying to scramble to book the section. It was 3 p.m. when the assistant sports editor/online told me to go tell the main Internet folks he was about to put up a breaking story that no one else had.

Mike Shanahan had been fired.

And me running to the other side, with news that no one had yet. The news that would be the biggest sports story of the night for us. Of the year.

The high I got that night, working in conjunction with the sports editor and assistants to map out the section. Of taking the section up eight pages. Of the stories we were going to get and print. The graphics, photos and design.

We submitted that section for APSE and this week, we were named a Top 10 daily section in the large category.

That rush. That adrenaline. That thrill. THAT'S why I got into this business. Because I come from a sports-oriented family, but was not very good at playing them. So I stayed in it by reporting on it. By covering it. By going to events.

But beyond all that, it was coming here on a daily basis. The format the Rocky provided to allow me to do my best work on a daily basis. My attempt to humor and push buttons with headlines.

And if you'll allow me a bit of selfishness, I uploaded some of my favorite ones that I have done over the years. You (and any hiring editors out there) can view them here:

http://chuckhickey.carbonmade.com/
http://chuckhickey2.carbonmade.com/

Again, my heartfelt thanks and appreciation for all of the notes, kind words and wishes from everyone on this board. You don't know how much they mean to me.

And with that ...

Denver, it's been a great ride. Who knows what the future will bring. But it will be hard to top what I've experienced the past five-plus years. I'm eternally grateful, to the people in this building, to the people who read us every day, in print or online.

I'm going to miss it so much.

Chuck Hickey
Night sports editor/sports copy chief/sports copy editor
Rocky Mountain News

RIP

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