Colorado Springs Independent
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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 The paper's March 20, 2008 front page |
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| Type | Weekly newspaper |
| Format | Compact Broadsheet |
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| Owner | John Weiss |
| Editor | John Weiss, Publisher Ralph Routon, Executive Editor Kirk Woundy, Managing Editor |
| Founded | 1993 |
| Price | Free |
| Headquarters | 235 S. Nevada Ave. Colorado Springs, CO 80903  United States |
| Circulation | 36,500[1] |
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| Website: http://www.csindy.com | |
The Colorado Springs Independent (commonly referred to as The Independent or simply The Indy) is a weekly newspaper that serves the Southern Colorado (El Paso, Teller, and Pueblo counties) region. It is Colorado Springs' largest locally owned newspaper. The paper's articles feature local coverage, investigative reporting, an in-depth local events calendar, and a bit of humor. The Indy has also received numerous awards for journalism from the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies. It is currently available in 850 locations and claims to have 104,000 regular readers.[2]
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[edit] History
The Independent was founded in late 1993 by John Weiss and Kathryn C Eastburn. The pair started the paper to provide "...informative, entertaining and thought provoking..."[3] articles. The paper was initially available on Wednesdays locally and was also featured as a supplement to the Thursday edition of the Denver Post. Now the paper is now released on Thursdays, can be home delivered along with the Sunday Denver Post and still includes the original local news and opinions but also food, film, music, and culture articles.
In the first year, The Indy's thought provoking articles included some of the following headlines:
- Double Vision: Is Colorado Springs a tale of 2 Cities
- Hot Commodity - No end in sight for higher rents
- Creation of dispute / Evolution of curriculum
[edit] Best of Colorado Springs
Annually the Independent publishes the results of a readers poll on a variety of businesses in the Colorado Springs area. The results cover food and drink in one issue with a follow up of services and attractions the following issue.
[edit] Location
The Independent's location on 235 S. Nevada is a historic building in downtown Colorado Springs. Its historic name is the United Brethren Church and was built in 1912/1917. It was designed by architect Thomas MacLaren and is built in the Romanesque Revival style. The basement of the building was initially the home of the Tourist Memorial Church in 1912 and when the upper levels were completed in 1917 it became the home of the church was renamed to the United Brethren Church as can be seen on the cornerstone of the building. The building was added on during the 50's and 60's then again recently before being purchased by The Independent.[4]
The Rocky Mountain Paranormal Research Society (RMPRS) has also investigated paranormal activity at the location. Visions of a woman being dragged down the front steps of the building, women sitting in the lobby, a priest in the kitchen, and more have been reported. The site was monitored with multiple video and audio surveillance devices. Recordings were reported to see shadows and hear voices. The RMPRS reported that after their recordings, they will return to the site for further investigations and report on any findings.[5]
[edit] Starbucks controversy
In December 2007 the Starbucks coffee chain, after a single complaint from a customer suggesting the paper is trashy or lewd, decided to no longer allow the newspaper to be distributed in their stores. This ban was challenged by the publisher of the Independent, John Weiss, but was told in response that the chain has a non-solicitation policy and that they only carry two papers, the New York Times and a local paper (in this case the Colorado Springs Gazette). The Independent said that their readers were very upset by this change and showed this by many letters to the editor. The response to the readers by The Independent was simply that the chain was no longer allowing delivery into their stores. This was similar to a ban by the King Soopers grocery store chain in 1999 but the stores eventually allowed the paper again after repeated complaints to the corporate headquarters by shoppers.[6]
[edit] Awards
The Indy has received numerous awards from varying news and journalism agencies. The Colorado Society of Professional Journalist, the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies, the Utne Reader have all given awards to The Independent and for topics ranging from excellent articles to one of the ten best newspapers reporting on local news.
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes
- ^ Unknown. "Association of Alternative Newsweeklies". Retrieved on 2008-03-27.
- ^ "General Media Kit". Media Kits. 09 Sep. 2006. Colorado Springs Independent. 27 Mar. 2008. http://www.csindy.com/pdfs/MediaKit%7CG%7C2006.pdf
- ^ Weiss, John. "Letter from the Editor" Colorado Springs Independent 27 Oct. 1993: 3.
- ^ "Colorado Springs Walking Tour." unknown date 2004. City of Colorado Springs. 27 Mar. 2008. http://www.springsgov.com/plan/historic3/WalkingTour.ASP?WCI=CityHall&WCE=197&Click=Short
- ^ "Investigation into reported Paranormal activity at: Colorado Springs Independent." Colorado Springs Independent. Unknown Publication Date. Rocky Mountain Paranormal. 27 Mar. 2008. http://www.rockymountainparanormal.com/csindy/
- ^ "Starbucks drops Indy." Koen, Andy. 26 Dec. 2007. KOAA. 27 Mar. 2008. http://www.koaa.com/aaaa_more_local_news/x940332916
