The owners of the Colorado Springs Independent and Colorado Springs Business Journal, Kevin O’Neil and J.W. Roth, sold the publications to Colorado Media Group earlier this week, just over a year after relaunching those publications and pledging to make “critical components of the Colorado Springs media landscape remain operational and under local ownership” according to a press release put out in early 2024.
Citing a lack of “alignment between the leadership and the editorial direction of the papers,” O’Neil and Roth have moved to dissolve the Pikes Peak Media Company.
Roth came under scrutiny recently when one of his northside venues, Phil Long Music Hall, hosted former Breitbart editor and Trump advisor Steve Bannon as part of the Colorado Republican Party’s annual gala.
In response to the criticism, the Independent ran a story on the Bannon event titled “Phil Long Music Hall owner defends renting venue to Colorado GOP for event featuring far-right firebrand” with the byline “staff report.” The Independent has also run full-page op-eds from both owners, lambasting Colorado Springs City Councilor Dave Donelson and pushing for a more “pro-business” environment in Colorado Springs. The paper also regularly published stories on Roth and O’Neil’s ongoing business ventures in Colorado Springs.
“We believe that media should be a true reflection of the people behind it,” said a representative of the outgoing ownership group in a news release. “When that connection is lost, it’s time to step aside and let new leadership take the reins. We are confident that Dirk R. Hobbs and the Colorado Media Group will bring fresh perspective and energy to both publications.”
Colorado Media Group currently publishes NORTH Magazine, the Southern Colorado Business Forum & Digest, as well as a radio show and YouTube/podcast series and a television business series on KXRM called Fox21 Business Insider.
“Southeast Colorado’s economy and business ecosystem are expanding and contributing to the area as a destination of choice for a number of sectors,” said Hobbs in a news release. “We know local journalism and knowledge base is important in our communities – to employers, workforce and economic stakeholders alike. Our message to those inside and outside the region is: we’re open for business. The Digest is here to provide business insights and news that informs, connects and creates opportunity and visibility for those making decisions for their business. We are thrilled to continue the CSBJ as part of our rapidly growing SoCo Business Digest media suite.”
Hobbs plans to continue the Independent’s coverage of the local art and music scene. “While The Indy has been an integral part of the music and culture scene in Colorado Springs for the past 30 years, Colorado Media Group will expand this direction to fully capture the depth of the arts, entertainment and culinary cultures in and around El Paso County,” said Hobbs.
The Independent was originally founded in 1993 by John Weiss and Kathryn Eastburn. In 2022, Colorado Springs Business Journal merged with the Independent and Pikes Peak Bulletin to form a new publication called Sixty35. In 2023, the publication laid off staff and changed its name back to Colorado Springs Independent, but was ultimately unable to recover from $400,000 in outstanding debt. On December 20, 2023, publisher Fran Zankowski announced the end of the Independent, citing a lack of funds.
Zankowski provided financial support to the company to fulfill payroll obligations and went several months without compensation; an agreement was reached between the board and Zankowski, allowing Zankowski to acquire the company’s intellectual property rights, including its names, websites and social media platforms.
In February 2024, Zankowski sold the rights to the Independent and Business Journal to Roth and O’Neil, and was later hired on as publisher.
“The entire staff was laid off today, including me,” Zankowski told Colorado College journalism instructor Corey Hutchins on Monday. Hutchins, who is the co-director of the Journalism Institute at Colorado College, covered the publication’s closure in his “Inside the News in Colorado” newsletter.
This is a breaking story. We will provide updates as more information becomes available.
