A former executive editor and a former CEO share fond remembrances and observations about the significance of the Colorado Springs Independent to Colorado Springs.

Ralph Routon spent 24 years at the Gazette (sports editor & columnist); he became Executive Editor of the Colorado Springs Independent in 2006, Executive Editor of the Colorado Springs Business Journal in 2012, and the Pikes Peak Bulletin in 2014. He slowed down to Executive Editor Emeritus in 2017. He is secretary of the board of Citizen-Powered Media (parent of Sixty35 Media), board chair of the Creative Alliance of Manitou Springs, and vice-chair of the Manitou Arts, Culture and Heritage tax board. NOTE: Ralph Routon was named Interim Co-Publisher of Sixty35 Media upon the departure of Amy Gillentine on February 6, 2023.

We had hoped to have Cara DeGette, Senior Reporter at the Independent from its founding in 1993 to 2001, Editor-in-Chief at the Independent 2001-2006. Cara was prevented at the last minute from joining us, so we told stories about her instead.

Fran Zankowski joined us from Washington DC. He is currently Publisher at Boulder Weekly (2019-2023); Co-Creator & President, Foundation for Alternative Newsmedia 2013-2022; CEO of the Independent from 2005 – 2015, and the Colorado Springs Business Journal and Military Newspaper Group 2012-2015.

Nick Raven and Dave Gardner co-hosted. Video was directed by Nick Raven. 

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://www.sixty35membership.org.

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