A number of former Rocky Mountain News staffers have announced the launch of indenvertimes.com, an online news site with the aim of keeping the Rocky alive.
The E.W. Scripps Co. closed the Rocky Mountain News last month after failing to find a qualified buyer.
To launch the site, In Denver Times needs 50,000 subscribers by April 23, 2009, the 150th anniversary of the Rocky Mountain News. If that goal is reached, the full site will launch on Monday, May 4, 2009.
A 12-month subscription to the site will be available for $4.99 per month, six months for $5.99 a month and three months for $6.99 per month. Some of the content on the site would be free. Subscribers would have access to additional content, such as columns and online chats.
The venture will be a tough sell to readers who are accustomed to reading their online news for free along with the rocky economy making people less likely to spend money to read their news.
“Thousands of loyal Denver readers and journalism supporters across the country have encouraged us to continue delivering our high standard of professional journalism to the Mile High City,” said Steve Foster, a former Rocky journalist and an INDT founder.
“We’re prepared and excited to deliver the highest quality content in an innovative platform; however, to make this vision a reality, we need all our supporters and Denver’s citizens to subscribe today.”
About 30 former Rocky staffers plan to work for the site.
