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Supporters Rally For Rocky Mountain News In Denver

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Jan 29, 2009 8:03 pm US/Mountain

Supporters Rally For Rocky Mountain News In Denver

By Catherine Tsai, Associated Press Writer

DENVER (AP) ― About 300 people clutched candles against the wind during a Thursday evening rally to support the Rocky Mountain News, which may close if its owner can't find a buyer.

Current and former News reporters, colleagues from other news media and readers chanted, "Save the Rocky" outside the downtown Denver building that houses the newspaper. Employees wore placards, each numbered with one year in the newspaper's 150-year history. Historian Tom Noel, wearing No. 1859, wore a black top hat to portray News founder William Byers.

The group packed into the Denver Press Club for drinks and chatter before marching single-file to the News building.

"I can't tell you how touched I am to see so many people here tonight," news presentation editor Melissa Pomponio told the crowd, her voice shaking.

"I'm proud to be here to support the Rocky Mountain News and newspapers in general. Newspapers are the lifeblood of the community," said Newspapers and Technology Publisher Mary L. Van Meter, a subscriber to the News and its rival, The Denver Post.

Charmaine Robledo, 26, works for YourHub.com, a community-focused project of the News.

"There are still people who say 'thank you,' there are still people who want to get their news," Robledo said. "Seeing people here is a testament to that."

Cincinnati-based E.W. Scripps Co., which owns the News, said in December it was putting the newspaper up for sale along with its 50 percent stake in the Denver Newspaper Agency, which handles business operations for the News and the Post under a joint operating agreement. At the time, Scripps said losses at the News could reach $15 million for 2008 as advertising revenues failed to keep up with editorial expenses.

Scripps said then it would accept bids for the News through mid-January. It has yet to say how many offers it has received or when it might decide on the News' future, leaving newsroom employees uncertain about what's next.

"There's some shining candles. Shining optimism? Not so much," News columnist Mike Littwin said. "We're all hoping for a happy ending."

Longtime News reporter Lynn Bartels said she was humbled and honored to see how many showed up for the rally.

Newspapers around the country have struggled to pay rising costs for newsprint and personnel as competition from the Internet lured away ad dollars and subscribers. The recession also has curbed ad sales.

The Denver Post, meanwhile, has been asked for wage concessions by MediaNews Group Inc., the Post's owner.

News staffers have launched www.iwantmyrocky.com, a Web site to rally readers to support the newspaper.

(© 2010 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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