Fate of Rocky Mountain News to be announced

Some Guy · 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...

Damn.

There are no words. You said them all.

Damn.

Football_Bat · Feb 28, 2009

I'm beyond tears at this point. I'm just filled with seething hate. Hate directed toward people who did the impossible and made Lean Dean look good.

Fredrick · Feb 28, 2009

Scripps felt no loyalty because, "if they're still around, something's wrong with them."
Click to expand...

First the happy news: Chuck Hickey: That was such a moving piece you wrote for us on here. Your front pages look great. I always loved the look of your paper.

Now that bad.
That quote above. What asshole bean counters from Scripps. Uh, maybe the people were still around because they liked Cincinnati or the schools there for their kids or grew up in that part of the country and had family there. Maybe their kids were sophmores in high school. Maybe they just liked Cincinnati and their co workers.
Not everybody makes decisions like fucking bean counters. Fuck you Scripps.

Mizzougrad96 · Feb 28, 2009

How many people from the Cincy Post have found jobs in the business. I know one is doing radio in Cincy, but I haven't heard about anyone else.

I know there are some who left early who are doing fine.

Fenian_Bastard · Feb 28, 2009

I still write --30-- at the end of everything I write.
Mystifies the young'uns.

Mizzougrad96 · Feb 28, 2009

Fenian_Bastard said:

I still write --30-- at the end of everything I write.
Mystifies the young'uns.
Click to expand...

I did it when I filed from an old Trash 80 that would cut off the story about 1/4 of the time.

playthrough · Feb 28, 2009

Fenian_Bastard said:

I still write --30-- at the end of everything I write.
Mystifies the young'uns.
Click to expand...

I got away from that over the years after being away from newspapers but I think I might have to resurrect it.

MileHigh · Feb 28, 2009

Thank you again for all the kind words. They really, truly mean a lot to me.

I'm in Utah now. It was hard to sleep. I of course haven't seen how the Post looked this morning. Or saw Dave Krieger in print. I think it will really hit Monday night, when I'm supposed to head in to put out the paper at 2:30 and I'll be .... I don't know what I'll be doing.

Again, the words on here mean a lot. As do the PMs that have piled up (sorry Moddy and Webby), but I will be getting papers out next week. I've got lots of them for you all.

imjustagirl · Feb 28, 2009

We'll be here at 2:30 on Monday. I don't know if that's a comfort at all but we'll all still be here while you figure out what's next.

Gutter · Feb 28, 2009

I've had to take many time-outs reading this thread ...

The world needs more people like you and your fellow employees, Chuck ... especially in upper management, making the right decisions. Thank you for sharing your stories (and emotions) with us.

You showed your readers, your community and this industry more class than the beancounters at Scripps couldn't possibly imagine showing.

Castaway · Feb 28, 2009

Just a newbie here, but I wanted to thank everyone for their contributions to this moving thread, especially Mile High for his incredibly classy posts.

Andy _ Kent · 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...

Ditto on the Post of the Year nomination. Class doesn't even begin to define this man's handling of the whole situation (as I expressed to you in my PM, Chuck).

I know this is easier said than done, but if I were you Chuck I'd take the rest of today and tomorrow and get as far away from your computer as you can, maybe go out to a golf course if the weather is good and just free your mind for a few hours by playing a round or even hitting some balls at the driving range. Enjoy the peaceful surroundings and simply being alive, and if it's not a golf course, then maybe a walk in the mountains or sitting by a lake or river or something. It can really be quite cathartic.

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Fate of Rocky Mountain News to be announced

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