From the editor: Q&A about moving Pueblo Chieftain's print operation to Denver
Following last week’s announcement about the Chieftain outsourcing its printing, I’ve received several questions from readers and seen some inaccurate information going around about what all this means for the Chieftain.
Some of the local rumor mill has proclaimed that the Chieftain is shutting down. Unfortunately, another news outlet reinforced that with a headline that has since been corrected.
So I want to express, unequivocally, that is not the case: the hardworking and talented journalists who bring this paper to Puebloans will continue to do their job. And while outsourcing our printing operation is a major change, it’s one that generally shouldn’t impact how readers receive and consume the paper.
Here’s an FAQ about what Puebloans can expect and what went into the decision:
Is the Pueblo Chieftain closing down?
Absolutely not. We are outsourcing our printing to Denver through a production partnership. The Chieftain’s news and advertising staffs will not be affected by the move.
Is the Chieftain dropping the print product or reducing days that it prints?
Also no. While we are a digital-first publication, we will continue to publish a physical paper six days a week as we understand many readers still prefer the print product. No plans have been announced to move to digital-only, nor to reduce print frequency at the Chieftain. That said, the newspaper industry continues to evolve and I anticipate the Chieftain will continue to adapt with the times, which means increasingly prioritizing digital journalism.
What’s the timeline for the move to Denver?
The Chieftain is scheduled to publish its final edition in Pueblo on Sunday, Aug. 13, with the Denver Post beginning to print the paper the following day on Monday, Aug. 14.
With the paper being driven down to Pueblo from Denver, will it show up later?
It shouldn’t. With the production schedule that’s been established in Denver, we expect the paper will still be delivered to readers’ homes at approximately the same times to which they’re accustomed.
What will happen with the Chieftain’s current building?
It’s hard to say anything definitively at this point, but because the Chieftain’s longtime home near the Midtown Shopping Center — where we’ve been for 62 years — is a 38,550-square-foot plant designed to accommodate a commercial printing press and hundreds of employees, it’s safe to say the building is now excessive for our needs. Therefore, it will be put up for sale.
When we have more information as to what will happen with the building, we’ll share that with readers and let them know where to continue to find us.
Will this affect my subscription price?
Our production partnership will not impact current subscription rates.
What is the impact on the local economy?
Fifty-one employees — 25 full-time and 26 part-time — are affected.
The men and women who work the presses here represent decades, if not centuries of combined service to the Pueblo Chieftain and southern Colorado printing in general. Although their faces, bylines, or names never appeared on the masthead, their contributions to the paper have been invaluable.
Why should I subscribe to the Chieftain when it’s not local anymore?
Regular readers know the Chieftain remains intensely local in its coverage regardless of who owns it.
Our reporters are active members of this community. They live in Pueblo. They dine and shop here. They attend events and participate in rec leagues and other activities in the city.
Much more importantly, they are constant fixtures at city council, school board and board of county commissioner meetings. They hold local politicians, law enforcement officials and other public figures accountable for their actions. They highlight Pueblo’s triumphs as well as its tribulations. And while we cover a wide range of topics here, all the stories we write really revolve around Pueblo and its people.
In an editorial published on June 1, 1901 announcing the Pueblo Star-Journal Publishing Company’s purchase of the Pueblo Evening Journal and Daily Evening Star, therefore forming The Pueblo Star-Journal, the editorial board for the new publication wrote:
“Pueblo! That is our motto, or watchword and our battle cry. That this city shall grow and flourish; that all the people shall work together for its advancement industrially, socially and politically; that no opportunity to say a good thing or do a good thing for its forwarding shall be lost — these shall be our mission in the newspaper field and the final reason for our existence.”
That motto, that mission, is still the reason we exist. And that won't ever change as long as there's a group of people dedicated to telling Pueblo's stories.
Chieftain editor Zach Hillstrom can be reached at zhillstrom@gannett.com or on Twitter @ZachHillstrom. Support local news, subscribe to the Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com
This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Pueblo Chieftain editor answers questions on moving printing to Denver
