2014 Aspen Journalism Annual Rep rt Aspen Journalism local . nonprofit. investigative THE ORGANIZATION Mission Aspen Journalism is an independent news organization covering Aspen, Pitkin County, the Roaring Fork River watershed, and western Colorado. distribute investigative, in-depth and insightful journalism, as we believe well-informed citizens make better decisions. We collaborate with local and regional media organizations on projects and stories, and we seek to present public data in a useful and compelling manner. We’re supported by people who have a stake in our coverage area and appreciate good journalism. Brent Gardner-Smith Editor and Executive Director www.aspenjournalism.org news@aspenjournalism.org 1280 Ute Avenue, Suite 4 Aspen, CO 81611 970-948-1930 PROUD MEMBER Front cover photo: Sawyer Creek, high in the Fryingpan River drainage, being diverted to the East Slope of Colorado. Photo above: Brent Gardner-Smith/Aspen Journalism. 2 2014 Annual Report THE ORGANIZATION Notes on Reporting Approach in 2014 In 2014, the organization launched an Editor’s desk in honor of Bill Dunaway – The Dunaway Desk. It also started four other reporting “desks,” including a Water, Land, Education and Government desk. Each “desk” was launched with an annual budget of $25,000 and was managed by a freelance journalist billing at $25 an hour and working an average of 20 hours a week on stories and projects. Bob Ward, the former editor of The Aspen Times, covered education. Paul Andersen, a writer, columnist and former reporter at The Aspen Times, covered land. Madeleine Osberger, the former editor of The Snowmass Sun, covered Snowmass Village. Brent Gardner-Smith, editor and executive director of Aspen Journalism, primarily covered water and Pitkin County. We also worked on stories and reporting projects with other freelance journalists, including Catherine Lutz, John Colson and Nelson Harvey. In December 2014, Aspen Journalism completed its fourth full year of operations. 2014 Annual Report 3 THE ORGANIZATION PHOTO: Aspen Journalism’s photos of the Little Annie wedding site on the backside of Aspen Mtn., above, were picked up by AP. Our reporting on the story, done in collaboration with the Aspen Daily News regulations on large private special events in the “rural and remote” zone district. Photo: Brent Gardner-Smith/Aspen Journalism Collaboration In 2014, Aspen Journalism collaborated on stories and projects with these news organizations: 4 2014 Annual Report CAPACITY & IMPACT PHOTO: Aspen Journalism’s photo of the jet crash in Aspen in January 2014, above, was published many news organizations, as was Photo: Brent Gardner-Smith/Aspen Journalism. Measuring Aspen Journalism’s Capacity and Impact Measuring journalistic impact is complex, but we feel it is fair to measure, consider, and discuss the following aspects of our efforts: — revenue; — expenses; — reporting capacity, i.e., number of full-time and freelance reporters; — number of stories produced; — reach, or the potential size of the audience; — reform, or whether change was sparked. 2014 Annual Report 5 CAPACITY & IMPACT $176,000 TOTAL $165,000 $518,000 $122,000 $55,000 2011 2012 2013 2014 Aspen Journalism Expense $149,000 TOTAL $405,111 $104,162 $70,388 2011 6 2014 Annual Report $81,561 2012 2013 2014 CAPACITY & IMPACT 1 FTE + $7,000 in freelance spending 2011 1 FTE + $5,000 in freelance spending 2012 1 FTE + $3,000 in freelance spending 2013 TOTAL 1 FTE + $60,000 in freelance spending 1 FTE and $75,000 in freelance spending 2014 TOTAL 168 51 2011 49 2012 347 79 2013 2014 *($405,111 divided by 347 stories is $1,167 per story) 2014 Annual Report 7 CAPACITY & IMPACT Aspen Journalism’s Reach, or, the Size of its Potential Audience We published 125 stories in collaboration with the Aspen Daily News in 2014. The Daily News has a daily print circulation of 14,900 from Aspen to Glenwood Springs. It has about 4,000 daily online readers and/or visitors. We published 35 stories with The Aspen Times, which has a 9,000 daily print circulation from Aspen to Basalt. It has about 5,500 daily online readers and/or visitors. We also published three cover stories in the Aspen Times Weekly. We published two stories with Aspen Sojourner in 2014. One in the Summer issue and another in the Mid-Summer/Fall issues. Each issue potentially reached 78,000 people. 10 most popular stories on Aspen Journalism.org in 2014: SOCIAL MEDIA STATS 1. Airport releases video of jet crash: 150,929 2. The Aspen 50 (2012): 24,853 3. Aspen jet crash photos: 16,739 833 4. Local properties over $10M (2011): 7,190 5. The Aspen 50 in 2014: 5,768 6. The pros and cons of standardized testing: 4,974 7. : 2,785 8. The Windstar property and John Denver’s legacy in question: 2,747 9. A snapshot of the top of Aspen’s luxury real estate market: 2,106 10. : 1,846 293 ASPEN JOURNALISM ONLINE TRAFFIC 2014 SESSIONS 241,459 USERS 210,368 PAGEVIEWS 287,973 as of March 2015 8 2014 Annual Report Stories in this category were relevant and important, but they didn’t clearly and directly spark we received, we know they were well-read and appreciated by a number of engaged citizens. Build and let live: 40 housing in Aspen In-depth story includes searchable data base allowing people to see who owns deed-restricted housing in Aspen. Frame by frame: how the Aspen Art Museum was approved by the city Investigative review of the closed-door process that lead to a fast-tracked review of the new Aspen Art Museum building. The Aspen 50 in 2014: billionaires of Pitkin County References to the 50 billionaires who live in Aspen are now common. That’s because of this investigative story that aires own property in Pitkin County. CAPACITY & IMPACT Among Stakeholders Little Annie is rural and remote: but will is stay that way? An in-depth portrait of a highly-valued portion of Pitkin County that was in the news. Tired of limbo, SkiCo wants new Limelight hotel in Snowmass Base Village One in an extensive series of stories about the seemingly revived Base Village project in Snowmass Village - still the biggest project ever approved in Pitkin County. Colorado River Basin Roundtable to state: not so fast on TMD deal One in an ongoing series of stories about an evolving statewide debate over sending more water from the West Slope to the East Slope of Colorado. 2014 Annual Report 9 CAPACITY & IMPACT Reform In this category are the admittedly rare stories where we know, for certain, that our reporting lead to reform or change. In 2014, Aspen Journalism produced one such story. On Nov. 3, Aspen Journalism and the Aspen Daily News collaborated on a story called “Case for completing reservoir drain pipe not water tight.” This is how Aspen Journalism’s story began: “David Hornbacher, the city of Aspen’s director of utilities, acknowledged Friday he may have oversold the impact of a May 27 state dam safety report to the city council on Oct. 21, when complete the tail end of a big pipeline running from the bottom of Leonard Thomas Reservoir toward Castle Creek. “Hornbacher left the council with the distinct impression that the state was now requiring the city to complete the pipeline, originally envisioned as a penstock to a proposed hydropower plant, and now primarily seen as an “emergency drain line” for the city reservoir. has it ever told the city the pipeline is required to safely operate the reservoir.” The story lead to changes in the city of Aspen’s utilities and administration departments, as evidenced by two stories in The Aspen Times: “City pulls $750k drainline project;” and “ ;” on Nov. 27. Both stories were written by Aspen Times reporter Karl Herchenroeder, who covers the Aspen city council. Another story on the sequence of events was written by Aspen Daily News Editor Carolyn Sackariason. Published on Dec. 10, the story, “ after missteps,” stated that: “ ... changes were made last month by City Manager Steve Barwick to address some missteps regarding an emergency drainline related to the controversial and now shelved Castle Creek Energy Center project. They oversold the impact of a May 27 state dam safety report to the city council on Oct. 21 ... “. 10 2014 Annual Report “Aspen Journalism represents something this country needs more of: quality, independent local journalism that builds accountability and enhances communities, while doing so on a smart, sustainable basis.” Dick Tofel, President, ProPublica CAPACITY & IMPACT What People Say have left us in a world where traditional media with traditional sources of income can somehow no longer manage to cover local news with the breadth and depth and seriousness of purpose that are required to inform the public. So we are certainly fortunate to have Aspen Journalism to shine some much needed bright light into that darkness.” Andy Stone, columnist and former editor, The Aspen Times “Aspen Journalism has covered recent history like no other organization. When I see the Aspen Journalism logo on a story I know I will be reading something new, in-depth, and well-written and researched.” Steve Skinner, General Manager, KDNK Carbondale Community Access Radio “Aspen Journalism brings depth and experience to its reporting, which are invaluable especially in dealing with longstanding local issues. I support its mission and I hope to see the organization expand its reach.” Curtis Wackerle, Managing Editor, Aspen Daily News “Aspen Journalism’s reporting on water and rivers in Colorado is second to none. Their stories are always balanced, meticulously researched, and easily understood by people that do not work on water management. Aspen Journalism has helped keep citizens in Colorado stay informed on this important topic.” Matt Rice, Director of Conservation, Colorado for American Rivers ism, one in which spirited, independent journalists band together to tell stories of great import across platforms and partner with traditional media organizations to expand their reach. I am heartened by the courage and commitment on display in Aspen.” Charles N. Davis, Dean Henry W. Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Georgia 2014 Annual Report 11 THE PEOPLE Journalism Advisory Board Roger Adams former news director, Dave Danforth , Aspen Daily News Charles Davis dean, . Charles Firestone . executive director, Laura Frank executive director, . and vice president of news, Sarah Gilman contributing editor, High Country News. Rem Rieder contributing editor and media columnist, USA Today. Curtis Robinson co-founder, Roaring Fork Sunday, former editor, Aspen Daily News. Steve Skinner general manager, , Carbondale. Andy Stone columnist, former editor, The Aspen Times. Mike Webb sales and marketing director, 12 2014 Annual Report . Tim is the executive director of Public Counsel of the Rockies, and a professional mediator with THE PEOPLE Board of Directors Aspen Dispute Resolution. He serves on the boards of the Manaus Fund and Pitkin County Open Space and Trails. Edgar is an Emmy-winning cameraman and director of photography at in Wilderness Guide” and the producer and director of the documentary “A Land Out of Time.” Mark is the current president of the board of EcoFlight and has served on the board of High Country News, the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies and Public Counsel of the Rockies. Michael is a licensed securities broker with Raymond James and Associates. He is the former co-publisher and president of The Aspen Times and is a Manaus fund board member. Harry Teague is the founder and principal designer at Harry Teague Architects. He has lived in the Aspen area since 1972, when he received his M. Arch. from the Yale School of Architecture. Teague’s work, which includes the Benedict Music Tent in Aspen, has been widely recognized and appreciated. Executive Director Brent Gardner-Smith is the executive director and editor of Aspen Journalism. He’s worked as a reporter at the Aspen Daily News and The Aspen Times and served as executive director of Aspen Public Radio. He has a master’s degree in journalism from the Missouri School of Journalism. In 2010, as part of his graduate program, Brent worked as a paid intern in the communications department at ProPublica in New York. 2014 Annual Report 13 THE SUPPORTERS supporters 2011 to 2014 Alpenglow Foundation Arches Foundation Aspen Business Center Foundation Brett Family Foundation Jessica and Henry Catto Memorial Fund Nick DeWolf Foundation Fullerton Family Charitable Trust Mark Harvey Joanne and Lee Lyon Maki Foundation Margulf Foundation The Manaus Fund Ernst and Wilma Martens Foundation New-Land Foundation Sopris Foundation George Stranahan Thrift Shop of Aspen Walton Family Foundation 14 2014 Annual Report