1 The Founders
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
