Stating a weak economy and no buyer, The Rocky Mountain News announced that tomorrow’s newspaper will be their last publication. This is the first newspaper in a major city that will cease publishing with major being defined as a city above 1 million people.
In a statement, E.W. Scripps CEO Rich Boehne said that “The Rocky is one of America’s very best examples of what local news organizations need to be in the future. Unfortunately, the partnership’s business model is locked in the past. Today the Rocky Mountain News, long the leading voice in Denver, becomes a victim of changing times in our industry and huge economic challenges. The Rocky is one of America’s very best examples of what local news organizations need to be in the future. Unfortunately, the partnership’s business model is locked in the past.”
Even though the newspaper is closing, KUSA-TV says that Scripps still owns the website. One has to wonder if an online version will still be offered.
Because newspapers still have no clue how to make money online and sticking to general news and not venturing into niche content, this is the start of many publications that will close because of the Internet.