The Coloradoan's move to Midtown keeps us rooted to our Fort Collins history
After 49 years on Riverside Avenue, the Coloradoan is moving.
The buildings at 1212 and 1300 Riverside have been home to generations of journalists, advertising agents, press operators and more whose tireless work has connected Fort Collins day in, day out.
While those big brick buildings provide a visual anchor to the community, they've never defined the Coloradoan. For 150 years now, the Coloradoan and its forebears have been defined by the people who have gone to extraordinary lengths to keep Northern Colorado informed through fires and floods, community quarrels and triumphs.
Through the golden age of newspapers, the rise of the internet, the tumultuous redefining of American journalism, the Coloradoan's one true constant has been the daily production of something that didn't exist only hours or minutes before, be it the printed newspaper or a late-night internet update on a flood-producing storm. The daily miracle.
Sometimes, that miracle hinges on the actions of one person. That's why, in selecting our new Midtown office, we're paying homage to the person responsible for setting our press in motion in the first place.
On April 25, 1873, Joseph McClelland rolled out the first edition of the Larimer County Express, which eventually became the Fort Collins Express, Fort Collins Express-Courier, and ultimately the Coloradoan. Later this month, we'll move into a suite at 2850 McClelland Drive in Midtown Fort Collins.
Coloradoan history: A hand-run press, teletype, smoke-filled newsrooms: The Coloradoan looks back on 150 years
The new space will reflect the needs of a leaner, more mobile operation that spends most of its time out in the community. Today, the office for many of our journalists and ad representatives is wherever they open their laptop.
Personally, as someone who has called 1300 Riverside my work home for 11 years, I'm excited for the move. The ghosts of Coloradoan past are abundant on Riverside, where even the artwork reminds us of a time when hundreds of coworkers clocked in and out of the building across all hours.
With the move, we're making space for 13 journalists and a handful of advertising staff who are supported by a network of remote colleagues working across Gannett. We're honoring our past locally as we continue our work to ensure a future where the Coloradoan remains part of Fort Collins' fabric.
On that note ...
Veteran editor Rebecca Powell takes over as city government watchdog reporter
On Aug. 14, longtime Coloradoan editor Rebecca Powell will take over our important city government watchdog reporting position, formerly held by Molly Bohannon.
Powell has shaped the Coloradoan's coverage for more than 21 years, leading its copy desk, editorial board, engagement strategy and reporting teams. Most recently, she's guided our government and growth team's reporting efforts while also helping launch our Coloradoan Conversations opinion offering.
Powell is deeply rooted in Northern Colorado, having grown up in Greeley. Her two sons attend Rocky Mountain High School. She'll bring to this critical reporting beat a knowledge of the Fort Collins landscape that no new hire can match, having led or helped lead the reporting efforts of former city reporters Kevin Duggan, Nick Coltrain, Jacy Marmaduke and Bohannon.
Powell's return to the reporting ranks also further streamlines our news organization and increases our ability to create news that is essential and exclusive to Coloradoan readers. I'm excited to lead a reimagined government and growth team (it was my first job at the Coloradoan) that will include Powell, longtime Coloradoan reporters Pat Ferrier and Kelly Lyell, and a new addition.
The Coloradoan is hiring a growing communities and environment reporter
We may be the Fort Collins Coloradoan, but we realize that the urbanization of Northern Colorado is changing how people live, work and recreate in Larimer and Weld counties. While our current staff has done its best to keep up with government decisions being made by Larimer County, Windsor, Timnath, Wellington and Loveland officials, we can use additional muscle to serve as a watchdog for residents living outside of Fort Collins.
This August, we're recruiting to hire a new reporting position to cover the nexus of Northern Colorado's urbanization and how decisions by local government leaders impact livability and the environment, including issues of water supply, air quality, transportation and affordability. If you know anyone who might be a good fit, have them check out the posting on the Gannett careers site.
Farewell, photojournalist Lucas Boland
I'm not as excited to make this announcement. After joining the Coloradoan in January from the Corpus-Christi Caller-Times, photojournalist Lucas Boland will leave us in late August for a move to New York City.
Lucas has been a great addition to the Coloradoan staff, and it was serendipitous to learn when I reached out to him about the job last December that he was a Rocky Mountain High School graduate. Lucas' work at the Coloradoan will win awards. I'm as sure of that as I am in seeing his photojournalism featured prominently in news publications for years to come.
We expect to begin recruiting for a staff photojournalist shortly.
Finally, a reminder of who we are
If that feels like a lot of change, it is. Fortunately, turnover isn't the norm for our news staff, which boasts more than 170 years of combined experience covering Fort Collins and Larimer County. You can always keep tabs on who does what at Coloradoan.com/contact/staff/. But for ease of use, here's a quick look at the Coloradoan news team.
Editors and planners
Eric Larsen, executive editor (ericlarsen@coloradoan.com): Leads government and growth and sports reporting teams; Coloradoan Conversations and opinion; Fort Collins site lead.
Sarah Kyle, associate editor (sarahkyle@coloradoan.com): Leads breaking news, public safety, culture and photojournalism team.
Holly Engelman, planner/producer (hollyengelman@coloradoan.com): Leads Coloradoan print and digital planning, social media and newsletter strategy.
News reporters
Miles Blumhardt (milesblumhardt@coloradoan.com): Breaking news, outdoors and transportation
Pat Ferrier (patferrier@coloradoan.com): Growth, development and economic opportunity
Kelly Lyell (kellylyell@coloradoan.com): K-12 and higher education
Rebecca Powell: (rebeccapowell@coloradoan.com): Fort Collins city government and Fort Collins' representation in the Colorado legislature and Congress
Sady Swanson (sadyswanson@coloradoan.com): Breaking news and public safety
Erin Udell (erinudell@coloradoan.com): Dining, arts, culture and history
TBD: Growing communities and environment
Sports reporters
Chris Abshire (chrisabshire@coloradoan.com): High school and community sports
Kevin Lytle (kevinlytle@coloradoan.com): CSU athletics
Photojournalist
Lucas Boland (lucasboland@coloradoan.com): Lead staff photojournalist
As always, thanks for reading the Coloradoan.
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: The Coloradoan is moving to Midtown Fort Collins, making other changes
