E.W. Scripps still mum on sale of Rocky Mountain News intellectual property

A blog yesterday focused on complaints about the Rocky Mountain News website, which has been static since the paper's February shutdown. In that item, I mentioned that I'd contacted Tim King, spokesman for E.W. Scripps, the Rocky's longtime owner, asking for an update about the possible sale of the tabloid's...

By Michael Roberts

August 11, 2009

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A blog yesterday focused on complaints about the Rocky Mountain News website, which has been static since the paper's February shutdown. In that item, I mentioned that I'd contacted Tim King, spokesman for E.W. Scripps, the Rocky's longtime owner, asking for an update about the possible sale of the tabloid's intellectual property. His e-mail reply confirms the continuing availability of the name and web address, but that's about it. He wrote: "The IP is still for sale, and there's no development to report. I can't comment on who has inquired or how many inquiries we've received, but if there's a development on this front, we'll announce it."

King's response leaves press observers to wonder why this process has taken so long. In the meantime, the Rocky site continues to linger in cyber-limbo.

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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.

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