Campus paper in space crunch

Metroâs legislative newspaper told to vacate offices on Rocky Mountain News property by December

By Bill Keran
The Metropolitan

The Capitol Reporter, a legislative newspaper run by Metroâs journalism department, is getting the boot.
The Rocky Mountain News  has allowed the newspaper to use its office space at 451 W. 14th Ave. rent free since December 1992, said Gerry Murano, general manager for the Capitol Reporter. While it has not had to pay rent, the paper has reimbursed the News for utilities and janitorial services.

But the News informed the paper in early September that it had 90 days to vacate its offices, and Metro journalism professors are wondering where to relocate and what the impact will be on the student reporters.

The Capitol Reporter publishes 18 issues during the 120-day legislative session, which begins each January and runs through May. Metro students write, photograph, design and edit the weekly paper.

Journalism Chairwoman Deborah Hurley-Brobst said one option would be to find a place at Auraria.

ãI think it would be nice to have it on campus,ä Hurley-Brobst said. ãIt would allow the journalism department to use the facilities of the Capitol Reporter on a year-round basis. We might be able to use the computers for other classes when The Capitol Reporter is not operating.ä

But Metro journalism Professor Bob Burns, editor of The Capitol Reporter, expressed concern about having the paperâs office too far from the Capitol.

ãMany of the students spend a lot of time going back and forth to the Statehouse,ä Burns said. ãWe just want to make sure that itâs possible for students to access the Statehouse in a relatively easy manner.

ãIf itâs further away, where the commute back and forth isnât as easy as it was from the Rocky Mountain News, we might want to consider laptops,ä Burns said, adding that reporters could draft their stories at the Capitol and wire them to the office.

Metro journalism Professor Jay Brodell said he doubts the News has ill will toward The Capitol Reporter.

ãI think this isnât a case of the Rocky being mean,ä Brodell said. ãI think itâs a case of the Rocky having knocked itself out as much as it could for The Capitol Reporter, and now they just need the space for something else.ä

News officials directed inquiries to a spokeswoman who was out of town at press time.