Back in the early days of this newspaper I worked here. I switched to The Aspen Times and then back here again. I worked at the Roaring Fork Sunday and the Snowmass Sun, much like a media yo-yo. Other names you see in this paper have done the same. One thing we may all have in common is that we are looking for a quality, safe place to do meaningful writing that serves the community. For me, the Aspen Daily News is it.
When I was working at The Aspen Times, the Aspen Daily News presented a real threat. The Aspen Daily News had gained traction and was offering some real competition to the flagship paper. The Aspen Times brought in a consultant. Of course, that consultant probably made more money in a week than most of us working at the paper made in a year. I have been consulted and strategically planned and work-shopped and retreated and conferenced up down and around and around. There are people who do, and people who consult.
When the original owners of KSPN sold the radio station to an out-of-town corporate entity, their consultants told them to change the format to soft jazz and release the most popular morning announcer. That was an epic mistake, and an intentional destruction of a beloved local cultural institution. Their decisions caused turmoil, automation and destruction. Those consultants had no idea of the history and good will the station had accumulated. They knew better. At least that’s what they thought.
I remember consultants descending on the Times and they concluded that the “Aspen Daily News will be gone within three years.” That was decades ago. At the time the “Aspen Daily Miracle,” as we lovingly called this paper, was a little more chaotic. The content here was edgy and free as the newsroom and advertising developed. But it wasn’t going anywhere.
I sold advertising at the newly formed Aspen Times Daily. The new newspaper, published by The Aspen Times, was a response to the success of the Aspen Daily News. The Aspen Times had previously been a charming weekly paper of record. Now they were missing out on advertising dollars and needed to publish a daily to keep up.
I would go to potential clients and tell them that I could sell them a bigger ad that looked better in print and if it didn’t work, I’d “eat the bill.” The Aspen Times had a high quality press and put out a much finer print product at the time. Those were good days and that was a fun job and I made friends and money.
As always, the consultants at The Aspen Times were dead wrong, and contrary to their dire prediction this independently-owned Aspen Daily News organization has thrived. There’s a dedicated staff, zippy writing, community engagement, quality printing and an appealing online presentation. Still good. I hope they don’t hire a consultant. No need for consulting when you are leading the pack.
An Aspen Daily News article I just read that really struck me in a good way was Geoff Hanson’s review of the recent Jazz Aspen Labor Day Experience. He focused on what was happening onstage. He gave context by knowing the artists, their history, trajectory and style. He listened to the music and paid attention. Good job.
I saw a video on social media of Sting playing a classic hit at the JAS festival. Even though the video was shot very close to the stage it was stunning how loud the blabbing of the audience was in comparison to Sting. I’m sure the band could hear a wall of noise. Some in the audience missed the show. And you know people go home after and brag to their friends that they saw Sting from the VIP section and it was, “awesome.”
I remember seeing Bonnie Raitt at Belly Up and people next to me were blabbing about the last time they’d seen Bonnie Raitt somewhere else while missing Bonnie Raitt playing right before their very eyes.
Geoff’s job was to review the concert. I get to say other stuff. Someone’s going to read that stuff and maybe not like it. They might tell me. It happens.
In the same paper as the festival coverage Ali Margo wrote a column about getting personal hate mail from readers who disagreed with her viewpoint. I’ve seen this plenty. Sometimes they have a point. But I often find that the reader has missed my point entirely or needed a place to spill their anger or wasn’t interested in my rock-steady common sense.
It would be better if those complainers sent their messages directly to the paper where political discourse belongs. I love reading letters to the editor. When you write a letter to the paper and put your name on it the community of readers knows where you stand and how you think. And they can respond to you, hopefully in the paper where we all can see it.
