I'm sixty years old and twenty of those years were lived in Colorado where I began my journalism and photography career (part-time, freelance, stringer, activist) so I do know the Rocky Mountain News well. With two major papers out of Denver, the competition kept them both working hard for readers and advertisers. The Rocky Mountain News will be missed.
For the past fifteen years, I've lived in Alaska, rural Alaska, where the only newspaper that is timely is the weekly rag. The internet and public radio have risen to the surface as a major news sources for me.
I've always thought the better part of most newspapers was the section for commentary and the letters to the editor. This is the place where citizens communicate directly with each other. The Daily Kos is basically one major "letters to the editor/commentary" forum and, as such, provides a terrific service.
So as the Rocky Mountain News dives, the Daily Kos thrives. Trees will be spared. Corporate and certain business advertisers will not be catered to. Times change.
Even though my pay as a contributor to the Kos is zilch--a little less than my pay as a stringer or freelancer--there is a certain kind of reward in a well-managed site that allows freedom of expression (within reasonable limits) and encourages feedback.
To keep a level playing field, broadband internet access needs to be made available to all and needs also to beaffordable. Internet neutrality must remain a priority.
So, here's a glass raised to the Rocky Mountain News for its many years of well-done news reporting and providing a good forum for exchange of information and ideas.
And here's to the Daily Kos for using the tools available, along with its designers intelligence and creativity, for this new kind of forum for reporting, commenting, and sharing information, inspiration, and ideas.