By Sharon Almirall
Three weekly newspaper publishers stressed integrity in local journalism at a Colorado Press Women Zoom panel on February 22. They noted the weight of leadership is part of their concerns as they make hard editorial and financial decisions. They spoke on the challenges of financial sustainability, press freedom, pushback and innovation.
Erin McIntyre, co-owner and editor of the Ouray County Plaindealer and CPW member, said, “We’ve decided our niche is hard-hitting accountability coverage. We don’t have many friends here. Our mantra is how do we do the right thing. We are close-to-the-bone journalism. We report without fear of repercussion.”
Pauline Rivera, publisher of La Voz Colorado, a bilingual publication that has served Colorado’s Latino community for more than 50 years, advised community journalists to mingle with the community. She emphasized “knowing your audience and providing relevant information.”
Patti Brown, publisher of the Estes Valley Voice, agreed integrity is important and recommended finding people who have different perspectives. For Brown, her newspaper’s focus is hyper-local resident news.
“As a local newspaper, you’re not going to get national news. People want to see how the local news affects them. They don’t look for Ann Landers or a crossword puzzle,” Brown said.
The three women brought varied backgrounds to their work.
Rivera transitioned from TV to newspaper ownership after working on a project for La Voz Colorado, which she and her husband have owned for 17 years and noted both successes and COVID-related challenges. Brown launched the digital-only Estes Valley Voice eight months ago after leaving her editor position at a hedge fund-owned newspaper. She emphasized the challenges of learning the business side while maintaining journalistic standards. McIntyre and her husband purchased the Ouray County Plain Dealer six years ago after careers in journalism in Grand Junction and are running it as a small print-focused operation with just three full-time staff members while maintaining a news-first approach.
The panelists focused on the challenges and strategies of small community newspapers in the digital age. Rivera emphasized the importance of community newspapers in providing local news and their resilience despite the decline of print media. Brown discussed the bandwidth of readers and the need for newspapers to understand their audience’s preferences. Brown cited the importance of digital metrics in understanding reader engagement. McIntyre shared her experience of running a small weekly newspaper, emphasizing the importance of integrity and accountability in journalism. The conversation also touched on the challenges faced by newspapers in dealing with pushback from governments and the importance of press freedoms.
McIntyre expressed concerns about the current state of journalism education and the lack of preparedness of journalism graduates for the industry. She suggested there’s a need for news literacy in schools and communities, and that Colorado Press Women could play a role in promoting this. Rivera discussed the importance of understanding the audience and adjusting to changing reader demographics, particularly the shift towards digital media. She emphasized the need for good journalism and ensuring that advertisers reach their target audience.
Rivera added that having a women’s group to share ideas and challenges is beneficial.
In the meeting, CPW member Marilyn Saltzman discussed the importance of integrating media literacy into school standards and the challenges faced in its implementation. McIntyre expressed concern about the lack of media literacy implementation in rural parts of the state and suggested the need for more substantial requirements. The panelists also discussed the need for more awareness about the difference between commercial and public/community media, particularly in Spanish-speaking populations.
Lastly, the panelists shared their experiences with their respective publications, including their subscription models, advertising revenue, and philanthropic efforts.
The Zoom panel was moderated by CPW member Linda Shapley, Director of Editorial and Audience for Colorado Community Media. She agreed with “maintaining journalistic integrity and not letting others dictate what constitutes news.”
Photo by Ann Lockhart
