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Denver's Rocky Mountain News shuts doors
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Newspaper to readers Friday: "It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to you"
Rocky Mountain News' closure leaves Denver with one major paper, The Denver Post
Scripps exec tells newsroom the economy, industry turmoil sealed paper's fate
(CNN) -- After nearly 150 years in business, the Rocky Mountain News published its final edition Friday, the victim of a bad economy and the Internet generation.
The final front-page headline simply says: "Goodbye, Colorado."
"It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to you today. Our time chronicling the life of Denver and Colorado, the nation and the world, is over."
The paper's owner, E.W. Scripps Co., made the announcement to the newsroom at noon Thursday, ending three months of speculation and drama over its fate. The News had been put up for sale in December.
Rich Boehne, chief executive officer of Scripps, told employees that the newspaper was the victim of a terrible economy, an upheaval in the newspaper industry and multimillion-dollar annual losses.
"Denver can't support two newspapers any longer," Boehne said. "It's certainly not good news for you, and it's certainly not good news for Denver."
The News has been in a joint operating agreement with The Denver Post since 2001, which combined the papers' business operations in an effort to save money but left the editorial departments separate.
The News' closure leaves Denver with one major newspaper, like most American cities.
"We've been, sort of, hanging on the edge for so long," said Mel Pompanio, a presentation editor for the paper. "What a huge loss for Colorado today."
Newspapers across the country are under pressure as readership declines, along with advertising revenue, while more and more Americans get their information online.
This week, the San Francisco Chronicle announced it was in danger of being sold or closed if it doesn't stop bleeding millions. Officials from the Hearst Corp., owners of the Chronicle, said the paper lost $50 million in 2008 and is on pace to lose more this year.
"It's difficult. It's hard," Lynn Bartels, a political reporter and 26-year employee for Scripps, said of the News' closing. "I haven't returned any phone calls yet, because I don't need to be reporting and crying at the same time. I've done that enough."
Long faces dominated the newsroom in video posted on the paper's Web site. A few sobs could be heard too as the announcement of the closing began to sink in among employees.
"I could say stupid things like 'I know how you feel.' I don't," Boehne said. "We are just deeply sorry. I hope you will accept that."
All AboutThe E.W. Scripps Company • Denver • The Denver Post
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