Garfield County Jail bans Aspen, Glenwood newspapers: Only alternative to USA Today is toilet paper

A couple of years back, media pundits theorized that newspapers in smaller communities would remain healthy longer than those in major metro areas -- but times have proven just as tough for the little guys as the big ones. Example: The Aspen Times and the Glenwood Springs Post Independent have...

By Michael Roberts

March 5, 2010

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A couple of years back, media pundits theorized that newspapers in smaller communities would remain healthy longer than those in major metro areas -- but times have proven just as tough for the little guys as the big ones. Example: The Aspen Times and the Glenwood Springs Post Independent have just announced a consolidation plan calling for a single person to manage both papers.

Maybe such a move wouldn't have been necessary if their readers had included prisoners at the Garfield County Jail. But no: According to the Aspen Daily News, the jail's overseer has banned all local newspapers, allowing inmates to see only USA Today. The rationale? He thinks preventing local news from spreading increases safety.

Not for local newspapers, it doesn't.

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

Contact: Michael Roberts

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