The Rocky Mountain News gave the people of Denver nearly 150 years of storytelling. The journalists gave the newspaper four Pulitzer Prizes. The last of those major awards, in 2006, was for feature writing and photography in “Final Salute,” a stirring account of how a family and the military handle the death and burial of a soldier.
Great stories like that one have not only informed and moved the public, but they have helped Poynter and others teach students and professionals how excellent storytelling is done. You can find the evidence in the 2006-2007 edition of our anthology of award-winning work, “Best Newspaper Writing,” which teaches lessons from both the photography and writing of “Final Salute.”
The Rocky also helped Poynter directly two years ago by contributing to the “Eyetracking The News” publication, which is still teaching journalists in print and online how readers navigate their work.
In a small way, we would like to return the favor.
Now that the Rocky has published its last edition, more than 200 journalists join the ranks of those faced with the question, “What now?”
If you’re looking for career coaching, or for someone to critique your work or help you imagine a path to the training you’ll need to do better journalism in the digital age, Poynter’s people want to help. That’s what we have always done.
Below are the names, e-mail addresses and links to the bios of Poynter faculty, Career Center staff and others who will volunteer time in the week ahead to coach and counsel. All times are EST. Match your needs to their skills and set up an appointment to talk.
Pulitzer Prizes
2000: Columbine
Breaking News Photography
Awarded to the Rocky Mountain News photography staff for its powerful collection of emotional images taken after the student shootings at Columbine High School.
2003: Wildfires
Breaking News Photography
Awarded to the Rocky Mountain News photography staff for its powerful, imaginative coverage of Colorado’s raging forest fires.
Feature Writing
Awarded to Jim Sheeler of the Rocky Mountain News for his poignant story on a Marine major who helps the families of comrades killed in Iraq cope with their losses and honor their sacrifices.
Feature Photography
Awarded to Todd Heisler of the Rocky Mountain News for his haunting, behind-the-scenes look at funerals for Colorado Marines who return from Iraq in caskets.
Other Highlights
“The Rocky at 150 Years”
PDF of the first edition of the Rocky Mountain News
October 23, 1859
“First with the news: Denver’s oldest paper tells epic saga”
May 2, 1999 (140th anniversary of the Rocky Mountain News)
“Digital newsroom: Electronic wizardry propels press into the future”
May 2, 1999 (140th anniversary of the Rocky Mountain News)
“William Byers brought Denver its first newspaper and raised a city to read it”
May 2, 1999 (140th anniversary of the Rocky Mountain News)
“April 23, 1859: Rolling out a rich history”
October 30, 2008
“Telling stories, sharing history”
October 25, 2008
