New online news magazine to launch in Denver: the Rocky Mountain Independent

Posted by Emma Heald on May 15, 2009 at 6:04 PM

A group of writers and editors who worked for the Rocky Mountain News before its closure in February have announced plans to launch a daily online news magazine called the Rocky Mountain Independent. The general interest publication will offer analysis, commentary and discussion about local news, sports, politics, business and culture in Denver and the region, according to a press release. It is expected to debut this summer.

"RMI will bring an independent voice to journalism and the Denver community. Our goal is to partner with the people of Denver and serve as the hub of an ongoing conversation between those who cover the news and those who read it," said co-founder Steve Foster. A team of professional reporters and editors, paid contributors and independently owned partner blogs will provide content. The blogs will participate through content and revenue-sharing agreements.

One of these blogs is IWantMyRocky.com, created last December to rally support for the Rocky Mountain News before it closed. The site is to relaunch on May 20 and will offer news and commentary on the ongoing changes in the newspaper and online media industries.

Funding for RMI will be via advertising revenue and memberships. Members will have access to premium content and features such as live discussions with RMI's reporters and contributors and in-depth coverage of topical issues and events.

RMI's founding journalists own a majority interest in the magazine, including Steve Foster, Cindy House, David Milstead and John B. Moore. Foster said that the group's commitment to the core principles of journalism as part of a democracy and the creation a place for the community to engage with reporters were strong enough for them to be prepared to back RMI with their own money.

Former Rocky journalists have already tried to create an alternative news site for the Denver community, which now just has one main newspaper, the Denver Post. INDenverTimes announced its intention to launch as an online-only subscription based news site in March, however as it did not reach its self-imposed goal of 50,000 subscribers by April 23, the launch did not go ahead. Will RMI fare any better? A group of laid-off journalists in Seattle have also created their own publication, the SeattlePostGlobe, following the Seattle Post-Intelligencer's move to online-only. They are attempting to seek funding via donations.

Source: RMI press release