The Loss of the Rocky is Huge

Colorado didn't have an indie rock scene in 1859, but they did have William Byers. At the age many people graduate these days, 28, Byers lugged a thousand pound printing press from Omaha to what was barely Denver and managed to beat another newspaper visionary by 20 minutes in printing the first edition of his Rocky Mountain News. It made for one of the best episodes ever of the old TV show "Death Valley Days."

Coincidentally, today the Rocky Mountain News enters the valley of death. For Colorado to lose this most excellent of newspapers is a shonda on every level. You will see great and lofty editorials of bellyache and remorse over this. Hopefully somewhere, sometime, an appropriate free press will trace the roots of this tragedy because it isn't your normal American failure story. The Rocky won Pulitzers, the Rocky had readers, the Rocky had spirit, spunk, and integrity. And, the Rocky made money. The catch was, it didn't make enough money.

The blame will center around the internet, the declining readership, the changing world that will demand video games over newspapers. Somewhere though, there were decisions made, no matter how well intentioned, that doomed the Rocky big time. Today the Rocky ran out of time, just shy of a 150th birthday party that's been canceled for all time. Sorry, Mr. Byers. Your independent spirit and legacy really deserved better.

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Mike Flanagan
General Manager
Radio 1190 KVCU