Denver Gazette Debuts Online

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For nearly 150 years, the Gazette has delivered vital news to the residents of Colorado Springs, Colo. Now they are expanding their footprint with the new Denver Gazette.

The online publication launched Sept. 14 and is led by Chris Reen (president and publisher of the Gazette) and Vince Bzdek (editor of the Gazette). The publication includes city hall and legislative news, statewide reporting, business, local editorials and more. It is delivered at 5 a.m. each day to desktop computers, laptops, iPads and mobile phones via an app. Readers can also head to denvergazette.com to find the e-edition. The publication has at least 56 pages daily and 68 pages on Sundays, while the website and app is updated throughout the day with breaking news.

While the neighboring Denver Post has suffered cutbacks and losses over the recent years, Reen said, “We’ve long believed that there has been a gap in the Denver news market…The Denver Gazette will be focused on its mission to provide more high-quality local news than any other news organization in the city. By doing so, we believe we will attract and grow a significant readership that is looking for something more.”

According to Reen, the pandemic helped them finalize the decision to go all-digital. The company has already hired editors, news editors, digital editors and production and design employees, but they are still looking to hire breaking news and general assignment reporters. In addition, journalists from the Gazette staff in Colorado Springs are also contributing stories, photos and videos.

Due to COVID-19, the Denver Gazette staff is currently working remotely. However, Reen said that the company has offices in downtown Denver which will be available when employees can safely return to the office.

The Denver Gazette does not contain advertising on any news pages, instead there are six full page ads that run in between sections, Reen said. The publication will be offered for free for its first three months, or readers can subscribe for an introductory rate of $9.99 per month or $99 per year. Reen said the company will monitor the response to see if the price will change in the future. So far, he said, the market is responding better than anticipated and subscriptions are growing quickly.

“We know that (digital) is where everything is moving,” Reen said. “So in launching a new product like this, it made sense for us to do it 100 percent digital and not have the legacy costs of presses and disruption that would really bog down our business plan from day one. This really gives us the ability to go to where the future is.”

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  • RobGalvin

    I wonder whether "the legacy costs of presses and disruption" in the final quote isn't really "the legacy costs of presses and distribution"

    Thursday, November 12, 2020 Report this