Former Rocky Mountain News writers try .com venture
Former Rocky sports columnist Sam Adams announces plans for new publication.
By Charley Able
Lakewood Edge
DENVER – Several former Rocky Mountain News writers and editors have a new gig producing In Denver Times, soon to be an on-line, paid subscription publication.
When the News published its last edition Feb. 27, they decided to write on as the staff of IWantMyRocky.com, producing a daily on-line edition.
“Thousands of loyal Denver readers and journalism supporters across the country have encouraged us to continue delivering our high standard of professional journalism to the Mile High City,” said former Rocky sports editor Steve Foster.
On Monday three local investors announced plans to take the IWantMyRocky volunteers and their brand of Rocky-reincarnate journalism into the future as In Denver Times, but only if they can find 50,000 paid subscribers by April 23, the day the News would have marked its 150th anniversary.
“This on-line, subscriber format reinvents the old newspaper model while preserving the role and importance of journalism in our community,” said Kevin Preblud, one of the trio of backers who founded the new publication. “As entrepreneurs, we believe great journalism can still be good business. Given the precarious position that so many local newspapers find themselves, we should all hope this model survives.”
Preblud and investors Brad Gray and Benjamin Ray are backing the project.
Immediately after the 30-minute Auraria campus news conference, the group got its first taste of success when they learned 100 subscriptions had been ordered before Monday’s
speakers left the microphone.
INDT’s hard news content will free, but paid subscribers will have access to columns, perspectives and opinion, interactive chats, mobile feeds and other advanced technology features.
Subscription prices for on-line delivery of the new News range from $6.99 a month for a three-month subscription to $59.88 for a year ($4.99 a month). Subscribers will not be charged until April 23.
Meanwhile, IWantMyRocky.com will continue as a free, full-content site.
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