(See related stories and comments here and here)
A couple of years ago, 'SandBox Nanny' was quoted a comment that she was told came from an Aspen Daily writer.
Something along the lines of his 'boss would never even think to tell him what to write in his reports'. The impression left was one of high ethics within the publication and its ownership. Commendable in the environment of 24/7 news.
Aprx. two years ago, a small group of local micro-bloggers said this, as background explanation for their post on their blog, regarding the complete power dominance that our three local newspapers hold in the Valley. A fact that explains many regional issues and helps one to understand the dynamic of Aspen as the core lifeblood of the Valley:
"Using the influence of long standing power and control, a dying era has resorted once again to manipulation and spin of the internet and media. Glenwood Springs, Colorado is a fairly small town. Two grocery stores, one post office and only one parent newspaper that holds a monopoly on local newspapers. Glenwood Springs Post Independent, Aspen Times, Citizens Telegram, Summit Daily, Vail Daily, GJ Free Press are all owned by Swift Communications, which serves a number of communities in California, Nevada, Oregon, Colorado, Nebraska and South Dakota. Corporate offices located in Carson City, Nevada. We have only one independent and strong local newspaper that has been around for a long, long time that is not held by the monopoly of Swift Communications. The Aspen Daily Newsremains free from "corporate news media" with business offices located in Aspen, Colorado. The differences between the two newspaper companies is easy to see. Logistics level sees the Glenwood Post Independent filled with advertising in it’s print edition and SPAM filled pop ups in it’s online edition. We also have “up valley” and “down valley” views of our newspapers. Over the years, politics in our corridor has given strong class distinctions that distinguish between the two. The Daily is read by “billionaires” and “workers” alike. The “ghetto elite/wannabe elite” surf between the two. A growing number of citizens making a rising and impressive surge into social and political scenes are none of the above and use the Daily as the grounding point and the Post for a quick skim to catch up on buzz. The Post is the “down valley” for Swift. The Aspen Times is Swift’s “up valley” with both papers rarely in a war with each other over content as their content is the same. The Citizens Telegram, also owned by Swift, is the “real down” valley paper and is located in Rifle. Rebellious when it can to it’s parent and serves the seat of our big oil and gas industry. For those not familiar with the demographics of our town, Glenwood Springs sits in the middle and is considered the gateway to three influential and powerful commodities: big oil and gas to the west, public owned Vail Ski Resort and private held Aspen Ski Company. From the Summit Daily to the Grand Junction Sentinel, our news is followed all over the world. Politically, the Swift family is mostly blue but does once in awhile pander to the red, depending on which community it’s sitting in. "With the recession, folks cut back on the Post’s paid subscriptions and deliveries, instead picking it up free at newstands and walking the few blocks to do that. The Post and Times are larger in size and there are more pages. Logistics level with the Aspen Daily, shows less advertising and the folks still pay for subscriptions. It’s also the favorite of the estimated hundreds of blue collar workers who come from “down valley” to “up valley” and most locals throughout. Also holding the earned claim of being the paper absent second and third home owners subscribe to by mail. Politically, it’s hard to tell if the Aspen Daily News is blue or red. On journalistic levels, locals know if they want to read the full story, they go to the Daily. To get the gossip or juicy spin, they go to the Post or the Times. The Daily is also a free paper as well and can be found not only at news stands but piles delivered to local businesses, such as professional offices where one has to wait to meet an appointment. A “Good Morning” to another local hitting the newspaper stand at the same time, often holds a little eye contact and partial smile of knowing from each, as they nod politely and then reach for the symbols of what they support and believe in." (smalltown7)
The Aspen Daily News sometimes appears to be this slumbering force. One that is more than slightly eccentric as the staff and locals use it as a voice box. However, there is a reason the Daily is where locals really do go for the best insight into just the facts. There is inherent trust that staff and ownership have built up over a long period of time. Earned trust.
When the Aspen Daily speaks with breaking information or gives the somewhat rare editorial; the folks listen. Powerful at the right time, the Daily gets the point across.
'SandBox Nanny' agrees that it is inappropriate (at best) for ACRA to close off this meeting next Monday.
A meeting where we all know perfectly well the 'US Chamber flap' is not the real topic of the day. Amazing how power abuse can get away with so much more closet activity than everyone else.
Aspen Daily Staff:
"Officially, the Aspen Chamber Resort Association’s board of directors is not a public body. That may strike transparency advocates as off base, considering that 49 percent of the agency’s budget comes from lodging and sales taxes.
ACRA always seems to walk a fine line, between representing the interests of private businesses, while also maintaining its public role in the marketing and image crafting of Aspen. It’s caught in between these two missions with the question of its membership in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which has staked out positions fighting federal climate change regulation.
The Aspen Skiing Co., the area’s largest — and wholly snow-dependent — local business, wants ACRA to cut ties with the U.S. Chamber, as do others in the community. Many ACRA businesses, as well as the chamber’s executive staff, say the $800-per-year membership has benefits, including networking and training opportunities.
After years of debate, the issue will be decided on Monday at the ACRA board’s daylong “retreat” meeting, but the public — including the owners and employees of hundreds of ACRA member businesses — is not invited. The ACRA board has decided to invoke a provision of its bylaws that allows the public to be excluded from its meetings, even though the regular monthly gatherings are open to anyone who wishes to attend.
We urge ACRA to change its position and open the retreat to the public, at least for the U.S. Chamber membership discussion. The board needs to hear from its constituents one last time before making this decision. Either way, the decision will make headlines and draw attention from outside the valley, so the deliberations should be done publicly. As a private nonprofit, ACRA might not be breaking any state open meeting laws but we argue that it’s certainly violating the spirit of them by keeping the public out of Monday’s discussion...."
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