Fate of Rocky Mountain News to be announced

shotglass · Feb 28, 2009

... and to top it off, about eight of those pages are better than anything I've ever done.

YankeeFan · Feb 28, 2009

Can someone tell me what the -- 30 -- means?

shotglass · Feb 28, 2009

-30- is old newspaper parlance. We used to put it at the end of stories to indicate that this was, indeed, the end.

As The Crow Flies · Feb 28, 2009

It means the end.

YankeeFan · Feb 28, 2009

shotglass said:

-30- is old newspaper parlance. We used to put it at the end of stories to indicate that this was, indeed, the end.
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Thanks.

pseudo · Dec 15, 2014

To expand on that explanation, --30-- originated as part of an early telegraph code:

http://www.civilwarsignals.org/pages/tele/wurules1866/92code.html

And as I noted earlier, that's what nailed me about Litton's cartoon. I can normally keep an even keel when I look at the big picture; it's the little things, like the -30- in his signature, that knock me for a loop.

Speaking of Litton -- this is his, from IWantMyRocky.com:

Jeremy Goodwin · Feb 28, 2009

I'm sure others can give a more detailed explanation, but this is what Wiki says:

–30– is used to indicate the end of a wire service story.[1]

Etymology

Possibly a corruption of German fertig - "finished, ready" - or in journalistic context "end of story".

It has been used since the Civil War when telegraphers tapped "XXX", the Roman numeral signifying 30, to end transmissions.
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An old-school way of saying, "the end."

ArnoldBabar · Feb 28, 2009

I have always put -30- at the end of every file, and always will.

Soon I'll be writing my ultimate -30-. I should put it at the bottom of my resume -- anyone who got it would definitely hire me.

imjustagirl · Feb 28, 2009

I used to put -30- at the bottom of my stories. It always was appreciated by the more experienced deskers at my old shop.

We had guys who put -end it- or -end- or whatever, but -30- was like a shout out as far as I was concerned.

slappy4428 · Feb 28, 2009

Killick said:

You're a better man than I, MH. After Scripps gave up on newspapers, especially mine (Cincy Post), I will hold a grudge for a long, long time. Now, giving up on the Cincy Post was one thing -- we were withering on the vine. Could have been saved, but was unlikely. The Rocky is a totally different story. A bold, vibrant paper. Scripps' actions are inexcusable.

And today, I'm thinking of all those people who held out until the bitter end. We had ours in Cincy, too, and one comment by a Scripps corporate asshole filtered back to us in our waning days. The Guild was asking about bennies for those who stayed until the end. The asshole in question made a comment that clearly wasn't meant to be relayed, but was so offensive it was bound to be. Scripps felt no loyalty because, "if they're still around, something's wrong with them."

So, my grudge grows with the closing of the Rocky. Boehne and Lowe's hearts could catch fire and I wouldn't piss down their throats to extinguish it.
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WFW from this Post-Herald alum

Birdscribe · Feb 28, 2009

MileHigh said:

So, that's it, folks. The desk is cleared out. The In-N-Out sticker is coming with me. I snagged a framed compilation of front pages from when the Broncos won their first Super Bowl out of the sports editor's office. The five years' worth of stuff that I've compiled is in the car. The Scripps booklet on the code of ethics is in the recycle bin.

The sports sign over the department has been cut down and given to the sports editor. The parking pass has been turned in. The financial papers have been signed so they know where to find me.

Wow. This really is going to be hard. I've been trying to hold this in, but it's going to start coming out, I think.

I no longer work for a newspaper. It's the first time I can say that since I was in the eighth grade. It's a sick and sad feeling. But hopeful, too, for the future.

There have been lots of hugs and tears. Laughs and pats on the back. Well wishes continue to come in. The mayor stopped by. The governor was here last night. People sent food. Flowers.

It's starting to thin out here at 101 W. Colfax, Suite 500. I'm not far behind. I will walk out with my best friend, who was in the now infamous photo of me that apparently ran in the New York Times this morning.

It really is a death. And we're all family. We're all going our separate ways. We say we'll stay in touch, and I think many will. But our one link together -- attempting to put out the best damn paper in Denver, hell, in the country, a paper that has won many Pulitzers in the past decade -- is gone.

After 150 years, minus 55 days.

On the scrap heap of history.

There will be a big party tomorrow night at a downtown bar. Spouses and family can come. Alcohol is free. I will miss it because of a previously planned trip. But I will be there in spirit.

I worked for this great institution -- the oldest business in Colorado -- for 5 years, 1 month and 16 days. When I walked into the old building on Jan. 12, 2004, I had never been more proud of myself. My lifelong dream, living and working in Denver, had finally come true though my hard work and effort after more than 15 years in the business. It wasn't handed to me. I earned it.

I said it before, I'll say it again: I have no regrets. I have no bitterness toward anyone or any company. I can look back on this time and hold my head high. With the work I did. The friends I have met. The things I have learned.

Someone asked a few pages back for my favorite memories. I don't know where to begin because there are so many. Every Broncos Sunday in the fall was like a Super Bowl night with the stuff we did. The AFC Championship Game in January 2006. The World Series in 2007. The Democratic National Convention in 2008.

The afternoon of Dec. 30, 2008. We were trying to scramble to book the section. It was 3 p.m. when the assistant sports editor/online told me to go tell the main Internet folks he was about to put up a breaking story that no one else had.

Mike Shanahan had been fired.

And me running to the other side, with news that no one had yet. The news that would be the biggest sports story of the night for us. Of the year.

The high I got that night, working in conjunction with the sports editor and assistants to map out the section. Of taking the section up eight pages. Of the stories we were going to get and print. The graphics, photos and design.

We submitted that section for APSE and this week, we were named a Top 10 daily section in the large category.

That rush. That adrenaline. That thrill. THAT'S why I got into this business. Because I come from a sports-oriented family, but was not very good at playing them. So I stayed in it by reporting on it. By covering it. By going to events.

But beyond all that, it was coming here on a daily basis. The format the Rocky provided to allow me to do my best work on a daily basis. My attempt to humor and push buttons with headlines.

And if you'll allow me a bit of selfishness, I uploaded some of my favorite ones that I have done over the years. You (and any hiring editors out there) can view them here:

http://chuckhickey.carbonmade.com/
http://chuckhickey2.carbonmade.com/

Again, my heartfelt thanks and appreciation for all of the notes, kind words and wishes from everyone on this board. You don't know how much they mean to me.

And with that ...

Denver, it's been a great ride. Who knows what the future will bring. But it will be hard to top what I've experienced the past five-plus years. I'm eternally grateful, to the people in this building, to the people who read us every day, in print or online.

I'm going to miss it so much.

Chuck Hickey
Night sports editor/sports copy chief/sports copy editor
Rocky Mountain News

RIP

--30--
Click to expand...

:'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(

Freelance Hack · Feb 28, 2009

MileHigh said:

So, that's it, folks. The desk is cleared out. The In-N-Out sticker is coming with me. I snagged a framed compilation of front pages from when the Broncos won their first Super Bowl out of the sports editor's office. The five years' worth of stuff that I've compiled is in the car. The Scripps booklet on the code of ethics is in the recycle bin.

The sports sign over the department has been cut down and given to the sports editor. The parking pass has been turned in. The financial papers have been signed so they know where to find me.

Wow. This really is going to be hard. I've been trying to hold this in, but it's going to start coming out, I think.

I no longer work for a newspaper. It's the first time I can say that since I was in the eighth grade. It's a sick and sad feeling. But hopeful, too, for the future.

There have been lots of hugs and tears. Laughs and pats on the back. Well wishes continue to come in. The mayor stopped by. The governor was here last night. People sent food. Flowers.

It's starting to thin out here at 101 W. Colfax, Suite 500. I'm not far behind. I will walk out with my best friend, who was in the now infamous photo of me that apparently ran in the New York Times this morning.

It really is a death. And we're all family. We're all going our separate ways. We say we'll stay in touch, and I think many will. But our one link together -- attempting to put out the best damn paper in Denver, hell, in the country, a paper that has won many Pulitzers in the past decade -- is gone.

After 150 years, minus 55 days.

On the scrap heap of history.

There will be a big party tomorrow night at a downtown bar. Spouses and family can come. Alcohol is free. I will miss it because of a previously planned trip. But I will be there in spirit.

I worked for this great institution -- the oldest business in Colorado -- for 5 years, 1 month and 16 days. When I walked into the old building on Jan. 12, 2004, I had never been more proud of myself. My lifelong dream, living and working in Denver, had finally come true though my hard work and effort after more than 15 years in the business. It wasn't handed to me. I earned it.

I said it before, I'll say it again: I have no regrets. I have no bitterness toward anyone or any company. I can look back on this time and hold my head high. With the work I did. The friends I have met. The things I have learned.

Someone asked a few pages back for my favorite memories. I don't know where to begin because there are so many. Every Broncos Sunday in the fall was like a Super Bowl night with the stuff we did. The AFC Championship Game in January 2006. The World Series in 2007. The Democratic National Convention in 2008.

The afternoon of Dec. 30, 2008. We were trying to scramble to book the section. It was 3 p.m. when the assistant sports editor/online told me to go tell the main Internet folks he was about to put up a breaking story that no one else had.

Mike Shanahan had been fired.

And me running to the other side, with news that no one had yet. The news that would be the biggest sports story of the night for us. Of the year.

The high I got that night, working in conjunction with the sports editor and assistants to map out the section. Of taking the section up eight pages. Of the stories we were going to get and print. The graphics, photos and design.

We submitted that section for APSE and this week, we were named a Top 10 daily section in the large category.

That rush. That adrenaline. That thrill. THAT'S why I got into this business. Because I come from a sports-oriented family, but was not very good at playing them. So I stayed in it by reporting on it. By covering it. By going to events.

But beyond all that, it was coming here on a daily basis. The format the Rocky provided to allow me to do my best work on a daily basis. My attempt to humor and push buttons with headlines.

And if you'll allow me a bit of selfishness, I uploaded some of my favorite ones that I have done over the years. You (and any hiring editors out there) can view them here:

http://chuckhickey.carbonmade.com/
http://chuckhickey2.carbonmade.com/

Again, my heartfelt thanks and appreciation for all of the notes, kind words and wishes from everyone on this board. You don't know how much they mean to me.

And with that ...

Denver, it's been a great ride. Who knows what the future will bring. But it will be hard to top what I've experienced the past five-plus years. I'm eternally grateful, to the people in this building, to the people who read us every day, in print or online.

I'm going to miss it so much.

Chuck Hickey
Night sports editor/sports copy chief/sports copy editor
Rocky Mountain News

RIP

--30--
Click to expand...

Calling this the post of the year is an understatement.

This should be considered the gold standard for posts on this site.

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Fate of Rocky Mountain News to be announced

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