I got this email message the other day:
Today the founders of IwantmyRocky.com and other former Rocky Mountain News staffers announced a subscription drive to launch a new online news site, InDenverTimes.com. The site is mix of free and premium content. We need 50,000 pledges subscribers by April 23, the 150th anniversary of the first Rocky Mountain News, to launch the full site on May 4. Former Rocky writers Sam Adams, Mary Chandler, Lisa Bornstein, Mark Brown, David Milstead, Chris Tomasson, Aaron Lopez, Mark Wolf and Gary Massaro have already joined the staff of InDenverTimes.com. Help us prove that good journalism can still be good business. Subscribe here.
I’m thinking of subscribing. How about you?
Do you think this kind of website is the future of journalism?
I wish I could get behind this, but I’m skeptical it’ll succeed. I checked out the site, and it’s too early to tell whether the content will be good. I think it’s a little too blog-like from what I’ve seen so far. Having anonymous comments on articles is a sure-fire way to eliminate civil discourse online.
I like that they provide an RSS feed for comments (something Westword doesn’t have). But I don’t like that they only have one big RSS feed for the whole site. Unless I’m missing something, it’s impossible to just subscribe to articles on sports.
Todd Bradley’s last blog post..Knowing :: rogerebert.com :: Reviews
Well, I’m sure they’ll get lots of comments on all those things and will modify them if they truly want to succeed. Right now they’re just trying to get pledges to secure funding.
Beth Partin’s last blog post..Crazy About Denver: The Rocky Is Back?
I do think this is the future of journalism, but I agree with Todd, this particular site makes me skeptical. Would have had a whole lot better chance of success if it was 2004 and it was called rockymountainnews.com.
And yeah, anonymous comments, who’s dumbass idea was that? Freedom of speech was never intended to include a “right” to anonymity. If it isn’t worth putting your name to, shut the hell up. Oh, did I say that out loud?
Why, yes, you did, and I agree with you.
Beth Partin’s last blog post..Crazy About Denver: The Rocky Is Back?
I think there will always a be place for print but as we can see, news is also going digital. If we were in a more financial situation, I would definitely subscribe.