Subject: David Milstead

• More Messages: Changing the Scripps

  January 11, 2007

• More Messages: Shrinkage

  October 18, 2006

• More Messages: How to Succeed in Business

  June 13, 2006

• Way to Go After Joe

  April 30, 2007

• Dean Singleton on Sinking Circulation at the Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News

  November 8, 2007

• Is Circulation at the Denver Dailies Sliding Or Not?

  April 29, 2008

• Rocky Mountain News' David Milstead Predicts One-Newspaper Town

  July 2, 2008

• Denver Post tries to squelch shut-down rumors in memo that says the Rocky would close first

  August 25, 2008

• Colorado on NPR's bucket list

  Boulder's Karl Hanzel, as seen in a photo by NPR correspondent Jeff Brady. National Public Radio has told a couple of prominent national stories through a Colorado prism in recent days. Last week, the service offered "News For Sale?," a report about the growing movement to charge for online information products that had previously been available for free -- and among those interviewed were Denver-based MediaNews executive Jody Lodovic, commenting on a plan sketched in detail by MediaNews CEO De

  June 1, 2009

• Denver Film Festival vet and TV "dinosaur" Ed Asner part of Stop the Presses

  Ed Asner as Lou Grant. Ed Asner is back at the Denver International Film Festival -- at least on film. The irascible star of Lou Grant came to Denver 21 years ago, when the completely forgettable O'Hara's Wife opened the festival in 1987. But former festival director Ron Henderson won't forget one aspect of that appearance: "Ed Asner was on his way here when he was notified that Lou Grant was cancelled because of his involvement fighting the situation in El Salvador," Henderson remembers.

  November 17, 2008

• Looking at and listening to staff attempts to save the Rocky Mountain News

  The staffers at the Rocky Mountain News may not be in power positions when it comes to saving the paper, which was recently put up for sale by its parent company, E.W. Scripps. (Read our coverage in the feature article "The Rocky Mountain News is Going Down" and two sidebars, "Five Rocky Stars Who Could Be Going Up" and "Denver's JOA Makes for Muddy Reading.") But they're not simply sitting around, waiting for their superiors to decide their fate. Last night, a website called IWantMyRocky.com

  December 15, 2008

• Rocky Mountain News gets temporary reprieve

  Yesterday's blog headlined "The Latest From the Rocky Mountain News Grapevine About the Paper's Future" noted that the E.W. Scripps-owned tabloid had reported very little about its potential sale since December 24. That changed this morning with the publication of "Efforts to Sell Rocky Could Extend Into Next Week," an informative and evenhanded update credited to David Milstead and Jeff Smith. The piece confirms a comment posted on the aforementioned More Messages blog -- that Scripps would a

  January 15, 2009

• Rocky Mountain News scribes get self-reflective

  Business writer David Milstead and sports columnist Dave Krieger (pictured) are two of the genuine standouts on the Rocky Mountain News staff -- and in the past day or so, both have penned articles that consider the plight of their paper, which was put up for sale by parent company E.W. Scripps last month.

  January 22, 2009

• Leaked letter reveals deep problems at Denver Post, Denver Newspaper Agency

  The story about the possible sale of the Rocky Mountain News by its owner, E.W. Scripps, continues to evolve in unexpected and fascinating ways -- and many of the developments have come to our attention via the Rocky 's own reporting. Case in point: Today's article "Scripps says Post Violates JOA" by business writer extraordinaire David Milstead (pictured). The piece is built around a letter signed by Scripps CEO Rich Boehne (the subject of a recent More Messages blog) and fellow exec Mark Co

  January 28, 2009

• The Denver Post's fiery response to charge that it violated JOA with the Rocky Mountain News

  "Leaked Letter Reveals Deep Problems at Denver Post, Denver Newspaper Agency," a More Messages blog published this morning, considers the content of "Scripps Says Post Violated JOA," a David Milstead-penned piece from today's Rocky Mountain News. The article's centerpiece is a letter purportedly written by Rich Boehne and Mark Contreras, a pair of executives for E.W. Scripps, the Rocky's owner. The missive claims, among other things, that the Post borrowed $13 million from the Denver Newspaper

  January 28, 2009

• Dean Singleton's giant balls

  This morning, both Denver dailies feature articles spurred by a Denver Post memo sent out in response to "Scripps Says Post Violates JOA," a January 28 Rocky Mountain News report based on a leaked letter reportedly penned by two executives at E.W. Scripps, the Rocky's owner. The latter piece, by staffer David Milstead, asserts that the Post borrowed $13 million from the Denver Newspaper Agency, the operation that handles business matters for both papers, in order to fund its newsroom -- an act

  January 29, 2009

• Denver Newspaper Agency letter declares the Denver Post to be city's surviving daily

  As you can see, the logo of the Denver Newspaper Agency declares the business to be "The Publisher of the Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News" -- but evidence uncovered by indefatigable Rocky business scribe David Milstead suggests that DNA officials are already preparing for the day when that's no longer the case. Moments ago, the Rocky's website published "Denver Newspaper Agency Plans for One-Newspaper Town," which reveals the existence of a letter that declares, "Effective March 1, 2009, o

  February 4, 2009

• Denver Newspaper Agency, unions agree on cuts

  The only surprise contained in "Newspaper Agency, Unions Reach Agreement on Wage, Benefit Cuts," a just-published Rocky Mountain News article about a deal between the Denver Newspaper Agency and assorted labor organizations regarding a new contract, is that the reductions weren't deeper. Early in the process, one source suggested that the DNA wanted to lower pay and bennies by a whopping 20 percent. However, the Denver Newspaper Guild estimates the final figure at 11.7 percent. That number inc

  February 25, 2009

• Highlights from the goodbye-to-the-Rocky Mountain News press conference

  J. KnightE.W. Scripps CEO Rich Boehne addresses the media after announcing the Rocky would close after Friday's issue. Reporter Lynn Bartels's colleagues at the Rocky Mountain News warned her not to try exiting the Denver Newspaper Agency building through the main lobby. After all, the place was swarming with reporters gathered to attend an upcoming press conference at which E.W. Scripps CEO Rich Boehne -- and, as it turned out, quite a few other executive types -- was going to explain why his

  February 26, 2009

• John Temple turns down E.W. Scripps job offer

  Photo by J. Knight.John Temple at the February 26 press conference announcing the impending closure of the Rocky Mountain News. The months between the December announcement that the Rocky Mountain News had been put up for sale and word that it would be shutting down for good last week were filled with more surprises than press observers predicted -- and the aftermath of its shuttering hasn't been wholly predictable, either. Prime example: Instead of taking a job with former Rocky owner E.W. Scr

  March 3, 2009

• Q&A with David Milstead about the death of the Rocky Mountain News and the future of the Denver Post

  David Milstead. The most dogged and enterprising journalist to write about the Rocky Mountain News' closure saga came from the Rocky's own newsroom. Business columnist and reporter David Milstead broke story after story. For example, he unearthed a confidential letter from executives at E.W. Scripps, the Rocky's former owner, revealing that the Denver Post borrowed $13 million from the Denver Newspaper Agency to fund its newsroom -- but the DNA couldn't repeat this feat because banks wouldn't l

  March 4, 2009

• The Westword.com blog shortcut, March 4 edition

  Photo by Mark Manger.Rollin'. Feeling flaky? Today in Cafe Society: • Up Close: Star Kitchen. • A taste of Sudan at Restaurant 4580. • Anthony Bourdain at an altweekly? • Go help the Whole Planet. • Our Weekly Bread: Summerhill Market. • New Belgium's Sunshine Wheat gets canned. Today in Backbeat Online: • Members of Savage Henry involved in bus crash in Missouri. • Last Night's Show: These Are Powers at Rhinoceropolis. • U2 top seller at Black & Read. • Fertility in fallo

  March 4, 2009

• Ex-Rocky Mountain Newser Tracy Ringolsby carrying on -- after being stranded by Scripps

  Tracy Ringolsby. Lots of folks expected that Hall of Fame baseball writer Tracy Ringolsby would be among the former Rocky Mountain News journalists who'd find a new home at the Denver Post, including us. He was one of the five Rocky stars we thought might soon be moving from one floor of the Denver Newspaper Agency building to another. In the end, however, three of our picks -- Mike Littwin, Dave Krieger and Lynn Bartels -- got the nod, while Ringolsby was left on the sidelines along with ass-k

  March 5, 2009

• Denver Post chairman and MediaNews Group CEO Dean Singleton responds to this week's Message column

  Dean Singleton. Say what you will about Denver Post chairman and MediaNews Group CEO Dean Singleton (and plenty of his critics have, and will continue to do so): He's among the most accessible and engaged of all media magnates -- and he's not afraid to push back when he feels he's been misinterpreted in some way. Today's example -- a long note from Singleton in response to "After the Rocky Taps Out, the Post Acts Like it Won By a Knockout," this week's Message column, which chronicles the clos

  March 6, 2009

• Former Rocky Mountain News business writer David Milstead strikes back against the haters, including Dean Singleton

  David Milstead. The Wednesday blog "Q&A with David Milstead About the Death of the Rocky Mountain News and the Future of the Denver Post" has prompted some extremely lively (and often nasty) commentary, much of it directed at the aforementioned Mr. Milstead, a former Rocky business writer I feel has done consistently outstanding work. Others disagree, including Denver Post chairman Dean Singleton, whose letter about my piece on the Rocky's demise anad the new-look Post -- accessible in the just

  March 6, 2009

• Texas investor Brian Ferguson plans bid for Rocky Mountain News assets

  The cover of the final Rocky Mountain News. At the February 26 press conference announcing the imminent closing of the Rocky Mountain News, E.W. Scripps CEO Rich Boehne announced that the Rocky website and archives were for sale. Now, a credible bidder is stepping forward to announce his interest in the journalistic treasure trove: Texas-based investor Brian Ferguson. According to him, "We're in the process of developing a proposal to acquire the assets of the Denver Publishing Company, which o

  March 12, 2009

• Highlights from the In Denver Times launch announcement press conference

  At around 11 a.m. today, two prominent churches on the Auraria campus were hosting very different functions. A group of down-on-their-luck people stood in a line behind St. Elizabeth of Hungary to receive a donated lunch. Meanwhile, several hundred yards away, thirty former Rocky Mountain News journalists and a trio of businessmen gathered in front of St. Cajetan's Center before a slew of electronic and print reporters to announce a new project: In Denver Times. The proposed online newspaper,

  March 16, 2009

• Q&A with Kevin Preblud, an entrepreneur backing In Denver Times

  Kevin Preblud as he appeared at a news conference announcing the proposed launch of In Denver Times. On Monday, one week after a press conference about In Denver Times, a new web venture peopled by former members of the Rocky Mountain News, Kevin Preblud, one of three entrepreneurs behind the project (along with Brad Gray and Benjamin Ray), took part in the following interview. In addition to detailing his background and the manner in which he became involved, he answers some nuts-and-bolts que

  March 24, 2009

• Q&A with Denver Post editor Greg Moore

  Photo by J. KnightDenver Post editor Greg Moore at the February 26 press conference that announced the closure of the Rocky Mountain News. During the period of time between the December announcement that the Rocky Mountain News had been put up for sale and the February press conference revealing that the Rocky would close the next day, Denver Post editor Greg Moore kept a low public profile, and appropriately so. Since the Post became Denver's only major daily newspaper, he's stepped forward a

  April 3, 2009

• After the Rocky taps out, the Post acts like it won by a knockout

  March 5, 2009

• The Rocky Mountain News is going down

  December 11, 2008

• Five Rocky stars who could be going up

  December 11, 2008

• The Message

  Rally Time

  April 3, 2003

• High Road

  An online newspaper takes on the big boys.

  May 11, 2006

• The Message

  Here's to the good, the bad and the funny in Denver's most newsworthy newsroom.

  May 29, 2003

• The Message

  The Denver Newspaper Agency has combined the city's dailies into a one-two punch.

  February 27, 2003

• Journey's End

  The media outlets that helped Ocean Journey float aren't mentioning their roles now that it's sinking.

  March 28, 2002

• E.W. Scripps, former Rocky Mountain News employees finally reach severance agreement

  E.W. Scripps chairman Rich Boehne alongside his company's logo. According to Mel Pomponio, the Denver Newspaper Guild chair for the Rocky Mountain News, former staffers of the shuttered tabloid will no longer be employed by E.W. Scripps, the Rocky's owner, after today. It's fortunate, then, that a severance package under negotiation for nearly two months, is finally complete. This evening, impacted workers are gathering at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers union hall on Logan

  April 27, 2009

• Checking in on INDenver Times

  A new Drew Litton cartoon about the Nuggets' victory over the Mavericks is on today's home page of INDenver Times. On April 23, Kevin Preblud, one of three entrepreneurs backing INDenver Times, an online news service staffed by more than thirty former members of the Rocky Mountain News, revealed that only about 3,000 people had signed up as subscribers by that date -- far short of the 50,000 needed to trigger a full-scale launch. At that time, Preblud said the investors would continue exploring

  May 14, 2009

• INDenver Times renegades plan Rocky Mountain Independent

  David Milstead. Today's update about INDenver Times noted that many of the principals in the project, including former Rocky Mountain News business writer David Milstead, had struck off on their own on April 23 after INDT signed up only 3,000 subscribers (its goal was 50,000). In a conversation at that time, Milstead revealed that he and folks such as INDT managing editor Steve Foster were interested in creating an online news product of their own -- and today, they've taken their first public

  May 14, 2009

• Former INDenver Times managing editor Steve Foster on the new Rocky Mountain Independent project

  Steve Foster at a March 16 INDenver Times press conference. The earlier blog headlined "INDenver Times Renegades Plan Rocky Mountain Independent" notes the participation in the online-magazine project of Steve Foster, once INDT's managing editor. Earlier today, Foster, who joins INDT vets David Milstead, Cindy House and John B. Moore at RMI, provided some additional details about the planned service, and makes it clear that a summertime debut won't be put off if preliminary goals aren't met. "

  May 14, 2009

• Behind the launch of the Rocky Mountain Independent

  Steve Foster at the launch announcement for INDenver Times earlier this year. The Rocky Mountain Independent, which officially launched today, is the latest online news project from former members of the Rocky Mountain News -- and many of the fourteen journalists involved were also part of INDenver Times, which fell about 47,000 paid subscribers short of its announced goal of 50,000. Steve Foster, one of RMI's editors, and the former managing editor of INDenver Times, admits that this legacy cr

  July 6, 2009