High Comedy: Former Rocky Mountain News Reporters Try to Start Their Own Pay News Site

Talk about the real world passing people by. These antique media relics think they can actually get 50,000 people to pay them five bucks a month to get what they can read for free anywhere else?

Good grief, people, you obviously spent way too much time sheltered in your media bubble.

A group of former Rocky Mountain News reporters and editors is announcing a new effort to deliver news online.

The group promises to launch an online publication at InDenverTimes.com if it can raise 50,000 pledges of at least $4.99 a month. The deadline is April 23.

The site calls the pledges an investment "to encourage a bold, creative effort to continue a vision based on a 150-year Denver tradition."

Here's their pitch.

THE DEAL IS SIMPLE.

You pledge to pay as little as $4.99 a month, and if we reach our goal of 50,000 pledges by April 23 we will go live with our site to revive a tradition of distinguished reporting and editing with 21st-century electronic delivery.

It’s an investment, one worth $4.99 a month to encourage a bold, creative effort to continue a vision based on a 150-year Denver tradition.

Wow, 21st-century electronic delivery. Real cutting edge stuff there.

Here's a better idea for them. Start delivering that distinguished reporting for free and if people find it so irresistible then maybe later they'll pay for it.

I'd be stunned if they got even 5,000 legitimate pledges, never mind 50,000.

Ralph Kramden had a better shot at making money as Chef of the Future.

Who knows, maybe they can have a chat with their brethren in Seattle and see if they want to get in on this get rich quick scheme.