New Denver news venture adds staff, Web features

DENVER — An online news venture organized by former Rocky Mountain News staffers is growing, but it's unclear whether it will reach its goal of 50,000 paying subscribers by April 23.

Organizers of InDenverTimes.com, backed by three entrepreneurs, said last month that the full Web site would go live May 4 if backers meet their subscription goal by April 23, the 150th anniversary of the now-defunct News.

On Wednesday, InDenverTimes said six more former News staffers have joined its original roster of 30. The Web site has been posting articles and videos and also has launched interactive chats, which are free now but would be available only to subscribers after the full launch.

InDenverTimes is not releasing how many subscribers it has until it has at least 50,000, said Jane Ingalls, a spokeswoman for the venture. It also plans to woo advertisers.

Organizers said they had 110 subscribers within the first hour that InDenverTimes started taking orders March 16, most of them for a full year.

Subscriptions start at $4.99 a month for a year's commitment, and slightly more per month for a three- or six-month subscription.

InDenverTimes was organized by former News staffers who also were behind IWantMyRocky.com, a Web site to rally support for the News after E.W. Scripps Co. said it was putting the newspaper up for sale Dec. 4.

Scripps closed the newspaper when no viable buyer was found, and the News printed its last edition Feb. 27.

Scripps said the News lost $16 million last year, as advertising revenue sank.

The businessmen backing InDenverTimes — Kevin Preblud, Brad Gray and Benjamin Ray — have said their locally focused online venture will avoid a traditional newspaper's hefty expenses for printing and distribution.