The founders of The Colorado Springs Independent reminisce. John Weiss, Kathryn Eastburn, Teri Homick and Richard Skorman chat about events thirty years ago that sparked the launch of what eventually became known as “The Indy.” It was 1992. “Colorado Springs was a crazy place. Amendment 2 had just been passed, denying protection to gay and lesbian people. The community needed a second newspaper to bring out the best. According to John Weiss, “our goal was to tell all sides of the story. We wanted to celebrate the community we lived in.”

Weiss, along with Kathryn Eastburn, developed the business plan and launched the paper. Kathryn served at times as a co-publisher, editor, reporter, and columnist. Teri Homick was the first staff member hired. In this episode Teri honors the contributions of a long list of staffers. Local businessman (and later, city councilor) Richard Skorman provided early support. In this conversation, Skorman credits The Independent for the passage of TOPS (Trails, Open Space and Parks tax), as well as elevating other important issues. John Weiss shares that, “we were able to communicate and challenge. It’s not believable where we’ve evolved to.... It was part NPR, part New York Times, and part Bart Simpson.” The Indy was all about creating dialogue and getting people to think.

This is one of a series of conversations held during the livestreamed “IndyFinity” event held December 16, 2022, to celebrate 30 years of Indy history and preview the future of Sixty35 Media. The Independent, Colorado Springs Business Journal, Southeast Express, and Pikes Peak Bulletin are among the newspapers consolidating under the banner, Sixty35 Media, a new nonprofit digital and print journalism initiative that will do an even better job of shining a light on arts and entertainment, business, government and politics, neighborhoods and other civic affairs in all parts of our community, long into the future. Explore the new Sixty35 Media January 1 at https://www.sixty35media.org. Become a supporting member or make a donation at sixty35membership.org.

View video of IndyFinity on YouTube at https://youtu.be/C_iOmA5oFRw

Past leaders at The Colorado Springs Independent and Colorado Springs Business Journal discuss how and why their time here was so special.

Ralph Routon –Executive Editor of the Independent 2006-2017; Executive Editor of Colorado Springs Business Journal 2012-2017; Executive Editor Pikes of the Peak Bulletin 2014-2017; Executive Editor Emeritus 2017-present. Ralph is also a director on the board of Citizen-Powered Media, the nonprofit parent of Sixty35 Media. He is also board chair of the Creative Alliance of Manitou Springs and vice-chair of the Manitou Arts, Culture and Heritage tax board.

Matthew Schniper – Indy editor 2016-2019, various Indy roles since 2004; most recently Food/Drink Editor and Critic, which he continues to do for Sixty35 Media.

Carrie Simison – Indy Production Manager 1998-2005; Indy GM/Associate Publisher 2005-2015; Indy Publisher 2015-2019, Carrie is currently Director of Marketing & Communication for the Downtown Partnership.

Jennifer Furda – Colorado Springs Business Journal Publisher 2012-2017. Jennifer is now Director of Partnerships & Government Affairs at UCCS.

Dave Gardner hosted this episode, and Nick Raven directed.

Mentioned in this Episode:

Downtown Partnership

https://downtowncs.com/

UCCS

https://www.uccs.edu/

State of Plate podcast, hosted by Matthew Schniper

https://www.csindy.com/stateofplate/

This is one of a series of conversations held during the livestreamed “IndyFinity” event held December 16, 2022, to celebrate 30 years of Indy history and preview the future of Sixty35 Media. The Independent, Colorado Springs Business Journal, Southeast Express, and Pikes Peak Bulletin are among the newspapers consolidating under the banner, Sixty35 Media, a new nonprofit digital and print journalism initiative that will do an even better job of shining a light on arts and entertainment, business, government and politics, neighborhoods and other civic affairs in all parts of our community, long into the future. Explore the new Sixty35 Media January 1 at https://www.sixty35media.org. Become a supporting member or make a donation at https://sixty35membership.org.

View video of IndyFinity on YouTube at https://youtu.be/C_iOmA5oFRw

Civic leaders discuss the role the Colorado Springs Independent has played in building civic engagement and a thriving city center. Susan Edmondson, Julie Ott and Jan Martin also share their hopes and expectations for the contributions of Sixty35 Media going forward, and they thank Indy co-founder John Weiss for his commitment and contributions to the city over the past 30 years.

Susan Edmondson – President & CEO of The Downtown Partnership, Arts & Entertainment Editor at The Gazette 1996-2003, executive director of the Bee Vradenburg Foundation 2003-2013, and selected as a Woman of Influence by the Colorado Springs Business Journal in 2010.

Jan Martin – Colorado Springs City Councilor 2007-2015 (voted Best Local Politician or runner up seven times and the Best Local Politician on Business Issues five times); President, Garden of the Gods Foundation.

Julie Ott – League of Women Voters of the Pikes Peak Region; Colorado Springs School District 11 Board of Education

Dave Gardner hosted this episode, and Nick Raven directed.

This is one of a series of conversations held during the livestreamed “IndyFinity” event held December 16, 2022, to celebrate 30 years of Indy history and preview the future of Sixty35 Media. The Independent, Colorado Springs Business Journal, Southeast Express, and Pikes Peak Bulletin are among the newspapers consolidating under the banner, Sixty35 Media, a new nonprofit digital and print journalism initiative that will do an even better job of shining a light on arts and entertainment, business, government and politics, neighborhoods and other civic affairs in all parts of our community, long into the future. Explore the new Sixty35 Media at https://www.sixty35media.org. Become a supporting member or make a donation at https://sixty35membership.org.

View video of IndyFinity on YouTube at https://youtu.be/C_iOmA5oFRw

Mentioned in this Episode: 

Downtown Partnership

https://downtowncs.com/

League of Women Voters of the Pikes Peak Region

https://lwvppr.org/

Garden of the Gods Foundation

https://gardenofgods.com/foundation/

Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum

https://www.cspm.org/