OFF THE RIM: It's over

OFF THE RIM:
Gazette creates new blog, discontinues print edition

By Jim Keyworth
Gazette Editor

And so it’s over.

After 179 issues, the Rim Country Gazette is discontinuing its print edition – victim of the economy, victim of ignoble tactics by a competitor that very much wants its monopoly back, and, to a degree, victim of the times.

Newspapers are failing everywhere. Bigger and better newspapers than the Gazette.

But we are making no excuses. And actually, we’re proud of the product we created – the best and fairest newspaper in the Rim Country – and of how long we lasted.

It’s been exhausting, exhilarating, exasperating.

But in the end, we ran out of time. We ran out of money.

What we didn’t run out of was heart.

In considering a final headline for this issue, several came to mind – each with a good rationale behind it.

Assistant Editor Paty Henderson’s choice:

“What a ride”

Because it was exhilarating to create a newspaper from scratch – almost overnight – that stood for the right things. We were a ragtag, undermanned group, and for over three years we’ve been running twice as hard to keep up.

My choice of a final headline won’t surprise you:

“God help us now”

Because it is exasperating to think about the new state of journalism in the Rim Country. I wish I could recommend a paper for you to read now that the Gazette is gone – but I can’t. The choice you have left is between really bad journalism and manipulative journalism.

I will read neither. If I were a businessperson, I would advertise in neither.

Advertising is a good thing, but there are two radio stations that are trying to play fair for you – KMOG and KRIM. That’s where I would place my advertising dollars.

This paper began because of Payson’s theft of Star Valley’s water via the Tower Well. It began because some journalists and some politicians were not being honest with you.

The original Gazette investors gave us free rein to go where we wanted. Some people saw us as a shill for Star Valley, especially in our early days. We find it ironic that right now it’s the other guys who are shilling for Star Valley.

And we’re very proud of the fact that Gazette Correspondent Matt Brabb’s front page story about the Tower Well in last week’s Gazette is being hailed by politicians on both sides of the aisle as the fairest, most honest piece written on the subject of Star Valley water.

And while I’m on the subject of the Brabbs, Matt’s wife Mitzi has made a wonderful, even spectacular contribution to the Gazette the last few months. She is a professional in every sense of the word, and together the Brabbs could have maintained this paper’s excellence for many years to come.

And there are so many others.

The Consort, who put up with so many weekends filled with nothing but the Gazette – and who graciously allowed herself to become a character in this 179-week drama.

Our great volunteer columnists and photographers. Shelley Schadowsky who designs the most beautiful paper in the Rim Country. The investors who put up the money that let us get this far.

Paty Henderson and George Binney, the lead managing investor, have been rocks of stability and support. As was Al “The Butcher” Poskanzer, a managing investor and elk murderer. Through some pretty turbulent times, we were always on the same page.

The ad team, led by Sheelah Golliglee, did a yeoman’s job trying to keep us afloat. Art Russo and Tiffany Williams were wonderful.

I would also be remiss if I didn’t mention Ann Haver-Allen, my original partner in founding this venture. We have gone our separate ways, but fair is fair.

There were others who weren’t around at the finish line. Carol LaValley. Pia Wyer. Jenny Dennis.

Those of us who did stick it out are proud that we went down swinging, that we never compromised our principles, that we are walking away with our heads high

Despite what happened, we still believe in journalism. We believe in its mission in a free and democratic society, and we hate to see it minimized or misused.

Personally, it’s time for me to slow down. The Consort and I hope to spend a little more time in Denver with family and friends, but our primary home will still be the Rim Country.

I want to continue to teach my creative writing class at GCC, and one day teach a similar course in Denver. That would be perfect.

I also want to spend some time writing – just for me. Some poetry for sure, and wherever else the pen leads.

But I’m not walking away. And neither are a solid core of Gazette columnists and contributors.

We have created a blog at www.rimcountrygazette.blogspot.com. There we will continue to post our columns, your rants and letters, and such political coverage and commentary as we deem necessary and appropriate.

We want you to be a part of this. In fact, that’s why we’re doing the blog – to keep the wonderful core of Gazette people together and united.

We may disagree on particular issues. We may be left or right. Payson or Star Valley. Pro or anti growth.

But we are the people who care about this community. We are the people who care about quality of life. We are the people who believe all sides deserve to be heard. We must not lose our voice.

Together, we can all do our best to continue to keep the other paper honest. Or at least to expose their dishonesty.

Send your rants, letters and other contributions to peoplesgazette@gmail.com. Or you can post your comments right on the blog.

So thanks to you all for your ongoing support. And remember to tune us in at www.rimcountrygazette.blogspot.com.

And who knows, The Newspaper of the People might just return in print one day. Properly capitalized and knowing what we’ve learned these past three years – we’d run the Payson Roundup right out of town.

In the meantime, stay vigilant, stay involved, and stay the course.

Unlike what we watch on TV, the bad guys win more often than they lose in this life – but “for one brief, shining moment,” we sure had them squirming. In the process, their entire editorial team – top to bottom – was replaced.

In the end, the best headline is the simplest:

“It’s over.”