Aspen Journalism’s mission is to inform citizens on issues relevant to the communities in the Roaring Fork River watershed, the Western Slope, the state of Colorado, and the West.
In 2015, Aspen Journalism focused on two areas of coverage, water and education, and did so in collaboration with The Aspen Times, the Glenwood Springs Post Independent, and the Aspen Daily News.
Aspen Journalism was founded in January 2011 and so 2015 marked Aspen Journalism’s fifth full year of operations.
The Water Desk
Brent Gardner-Smith staffed the Aspen Journalism Water Desk and wrote 42 stories, including 24 stories on the Colorado Water Plan and/or transmountain diversions.
Gardner-Smith’s water stories in 2015 were published in collaboration with The Aspen Times and the Glenwood Springs Post Independent. Both papers have a daily print circulation of 9,000 and see about 35,000 unique online visits a day.
The stories were also published on Aspen Journalism’s website, normally with the added value of links to source documents and photos and graphics.
Additionally, the stories were also published on Coyote Gulch, an online aggregation of water stories produced for an engaged audience of water professionals in Colorado.
The stories gained further exposure through a daily email list of state and regional water stories prepared by Loretta Lohrman, associated with Colorado State University.
Also in 2015, Aspen Journalism further magnified its stories by discussing water issues in news segments produced by, and aired on, Aspen Public Radio and KDNK Carbondale Community Access Radio.
Approach to reporting
The Aspen Journalism Water Desk was set up in 2014 to cover rivers and water in the Roaring Fork and Colorado River watersheds, as well as other river basins across Colorado.
The water beat in 2015 consisted in large part of coverage of organizations such as the Colorado River District, the Colorado Water Conservation Board, and the state’s nine basin roundtables. As part of his reporting in 2015, Gardner-Smith attended over 50 water meetings around the state, where he was usually the only reporter present. Almost all of the meetings were dominated by the issues raised by the development of the Colorado Water Plan.
While on the Water Desk, Gardner-Smith also reported on local and regional water issues relevant to the city of Aspen, Pitkin County, and the Pitkin County Healthy Rivers and Streams Board.
Stories produced by Aspen Journalism’s Water Desk in 2015:
Below is a list of the stories produced by Gardner-Smith on Aspen Journalism’s Water Desk in 2015.
January 2, 2015
Can Colorado approve a water right to grow pot?
January 7, 2015
Aspen faces deadlines on federal hydro permit
January 28, 2015
Dam at Wolford Reservoir north of Kremmling moving slightly, but steadily
January 30, 2015
Regional water leaders discuss potential transmountain diversion
March 2, 2015
Water entities line up on either side of the Divide in state supreme court case
March 14, 2015
Aspen utilities official favors new dams on local streams
March 21, 2015
Potential new transmountain diversion gets a boost at statewide summit
March 23, 2015
Aspen water plan emphasizes a potential need for storage
March 30, 2015
Colorado River roundtable prioritizes water projects
April 1, 2015
Regional water efficiency plan for Roaring Fork watershed released
April 27, 2015
‘Split season’ approach to water use could benefit state’s rivers, including the Crystal River
April 29, 2015
Water districts seek study of Kendig Reservoir on West Divide Creek
May 3, 2015
Head of CWCB enthusiastic about instream flows
May 21, 2015
Watching the mouth of the Roaring Fork River
June 3, 2015
Dueling comments on Colorado Water Plan
June 10, 2015
Justice scolds Aurora over diverted Fryingpan River water use
June 13, 2015
Roaring Fork River threatens to flood
June 16, 2015
Basalt river work overtopped, mostly by design
June 18, 2015
Roaring Fork River kicks it up a notch
June 30, 2015
Colorado Supreme Court rules against private streams
July 4, 2015
Challenges to the Colorado River laid out at Ideas Fest
July 7, 2015
The South Platte basin calls for more Western Slope water
July 8, 2015
Second draft of Colorado Water Plan released
July 13, 2015
Water committee endorses revised transmountain diversion document
July 10, 2015
Aurora, Colorado Springs opposing proposed Glenwood whitewater parks
July 16, 2015
State water board rules against Glenwood’s proposed whitewater rights
July 25, 2015
Transmountain diversion concepts discussed in Rifle
July 31, 2015
Fixing ‘moving dam’ near Kremmling could cost $15M
August 14, 2015
Work underway to diagnose situation at Grizzly Reservoir
August 19, 2015
Progress made on Grizzly Reservoir repairs
August 20, 2015
Sen. Bennet talks water and mine clean-up in Vail
August 26, 2015
Transmountain diversion framework endorsed by water planners
September 5, 2015
Ruedi water to flow to endangered fish
October 11, 2014
Twin Lakes finishes dam repairs, draws opposition in water court
October 24, 2015
Action items to be injected into Colorado Water Plan
October 27, 2015
Western Slope lawmakers offer lukewarm view of state water plan
November 3, 2015
Front Range water providers defend their turf
November 8, 2015
Diverse views on framework for future transmountain diversions
November 9, 2015
The Colorado Water Plan’s twin goals of storage, conservation debated
November 19, 2015
Boiling down the Colorado Water Plan
November 20, 2015
Hickenlooper accepts water plan, downplays diversions
November 23, 2016
Water plan gives boost to ‘projects, projects, projects’
November 25, 2015
Lots of ‘storage’ in water plan, but few ‘dams’
November 28, 2015
‘Colorado’s Conceptual Framework’ included in water plan
Meetings, events and seminars attended by Gardner-Smith in 2015:
This list does not include meetings in the Roaring Fork River valley of the Aspen City Council, the Pitkin board of County Commissioners, the Pitkin County Healthy Rivers and Streams Board, the Roaring Fork Watershed Collaborative or other local entities.
January 5, 2015
Gunnison Basin Roundtable
Montrose
January 14, 2015
Yampa/White Basin Roundtable
Craig
January 20-21, 2015
Colorado River District
Glenwood Springs
January 28, 2015
Interbasin Compact Committee meeting
Denver
January 28-30, 2015
Colorado Water Congress
Denver
February 2, 2015
Gunnison Basin Roundtable
Montrose
February 11-13, 2015
DARCA annual convention
Grand Junction
February 11, 2015
Water for Agriculture seminar
Grand Junction
February 18, 2015
Water for Agriculture seminar
Grand Junction
February 23, 2015
Colorado River Basin Roundtable
Glenwood Springs
February 25, 2015
Water for Agriculture seminar
Grand Junction
March 3, 2015
Colorado and Gunnison executive committees meeting
Montrose
March 11, 2015
Water Educator Network Symposium
Westminster
March 12, 2015
Statewide Basin Roundtable Summit
Westminster
March 23, 2015
Colorado Basin Roundtable
Glenwood Springs
April 21, 2015
Colorado River District
Glenwood Springs
April 27, 2015
Colorado Basin Roundtable
Glenwood Springs
April 30,2015
IBCC meeting
Lakewood
May 12, 2015
South Platte Basin Roundtable
Longmont
May 13, 2015
Metro Roundtable
Denver
June 1, 2015
Gunnison Basin Roundtable
Montrose
June 1, 2015
Gunnison State of the Rivers meeting
Gunnison
June 5-12, 2015
Friends of the Yampa river trip
Maybell
June 22, 2015
Colorado Basin Roundtable
Glenwood Springs
July 21-22, 2015
Colorado River District
Glenwood Springs
June 24-26, 2015
Colorado Water Workshop
Gunnison
July 3, 2015
Aspen Ideas Festival, “Killing the Colorado”
Aspen
July 13, 2015
IBCC meeting
Lakewood
July 14, 2015
S. Platte Basin Roundtable
Longmont
July 15-16, 2015
CWCB meeting
Ignacio
July 25, 2015
Garfield County Summit on Colorado Water Plan
Rifle
July 27, 2015
Colorado Basin Roundtable
Glenwood Springs
July 28, 2015
North Platte Basin Roundtable
Walden
August 11, 2015
S. Platte Basin Roundtable
Longmont
August 12, 2015
Arkansas Basin Roundtable
Pueblo
August 18, 2015
Upper Eagle River Basin Water Tour
Vail
August 19 -21, 2015
Colorado Water Congress
Vail
August 24, 2015
Colorado Basin Roundtable
Glenwood Springs
August 25, 2015
IBCC meeting
Keystone
October 8, 2015
Integrated Water Planning Summit
Glenwood Springs
October 20, 2015
Colorado River District
Glenwood Springs
October 26, 2015
Colorado Basin Roundtable
Glenwood Springs
Some of the entities covered in 2015 as part of Aspen Journalism’s Water Desk reporting:
City of Aspen
Arkansas River basin roundtable
Aurora Water
Town of Basalt
Colorado Foundation for Water Education
Colorado River basin roundtable
Colorado River Water Conservation District
Colorado Springs Utilities
Colorado Water Conservation Board
Colorado Water Congress
Colorado Water Trust
Denver Water
Eagle River Water and Sanitation District
City of Glenwood Springs
Gunnison River basin roundtable
Interbasin Compact Committee
Metro basin roundtable
Pitkin County
Pitkin County Healthy Rivers and Streams Board
Roaring Fork Conservancy
Roaring Fork Watershed Collaborative
Ruedi Water and Power Authority
Southeastern Water Conservancy District
South Platte River basin roundtable
Twin Lakes Reservoir and Canal Co.
The Education Desk
Bob Ward staffed the Aspen Journalism Education Desk and wrote 35 studies on issues facing the schools in the Roaring Fork River watershed. His stories were published in collaboration with The Aspen Times.
Ward covered administrators, teachers and students in the Aspen School District and the Roaring Fork School District.
Ward’s coverage of education helped bring a number of issues and challenges in the local school districts to light, including those involving staffing, testing, and finance.
Approach to reporting
Ward, the former editor of The Aspen Times, worked closely with editors at The Times to cover the always-difficult-to-cover “school beat” in a way that added insight into the workings of the schools in the Roaring Fork River valley.
Going beyond traditional coverage of school board meetings, Ward met and talked with administrators, teachers, parents and students about their experiences in the schools and kept the community well-informed about the challenges facing everyone who went to a local school for one reason or another.
Education stories in 2015
January 6, 2015
Aspen, Roaring Fork school officials prepare for legislative battle
January 14, 2015
Roaring Fork School District carefully reviewing new superintendent contracts
January 15, 2015
Local students march into robotic Lego competition
January 17, 2015
Nonprofit coalition gives grades to Colorado schools
January 20, 2016
Roaring Fork school contracts still in dispute
February 3, 2015
Graduation rates up, dropout rates down in Aspen, Roaring Fork schools
February 17, 2015
Aspen Community School considers a name change
February 18, 2015
Aspen High School students don’t use alcohol and drugs as often as peers perceive
February 27, 2015
Aspen Community School decides against name change
March 2, 2015
Online exams usher in a new era of statewide testing
March 17, 2015
Contracts signal new era for Roaring Fork School District
March 20, 2015
Basalt Middle School earns ‘Trailblazer’ honor
April 14, 2015
Aspen High School committee tackles cheating, ‘academic integrity’
April 15, 2015
Marijuana taxes will help Colorado schools to build
April 28, 2015
Innovative woodshop class connects students to community
April 30, 2015
Roaring Fork Valley puts the focus on early childhood education
May 19, 2015
Basalt High School principal to leave in June
May 21, 2015
Aspen High principal resigns, will leave at end of school year
May 21, 2015
Aspen High School further restricts admissions
May 27, 2015
Questions surround Aspen School District’s resignations, retirements
May 28, 2015
Making the match of college
June 1, 2015
Roaring Fork school bond election likely in November
June 16, 2015
New leaders at Basalt’s middle and high schools
August 14, 2015
New Aspen High principal enters challenging environment
August 26, 2015
School rankings give Aspen High School high marks
September 4, 2015
Aspen School District launches first of two pleas to local voters
September 9, 2015
Basalt public schools hope for an upgrade
September 11, 2015
Oops — five candidates vie for just two school board seats
September 16, 2015
Candidates speak out at Aspen school board forum
September 28, 2015
College Fair to take place under a big top
October 3, 2015
Roaring Fork bond proposal has big plans, big price tag
October 5, 2015
Roots of Aspen School District Question 3A go back five years
October 20, 2015
Wi-Fi won’t cost $40,000, but school bus still too pricey for candidate
October 20, 2015
School-board candidates weigh in on academics, finance and school culture
November 5, 2015
Aspen school tax triumphs, incumbents re-elected
List of education organizations covered in 2015
Aspen School District
Aspen Elementary School
Aspen Middle School
Aspen High School
Aspen Country Day
Aspen Community School
Roaring Fork School District
Basalt Elementary School
Basalt Middle School
Basalt High School
Colorado Dept. of Education
Crystal River Elementary, Carbondale
Carbondale Middle School
Roaring Fork High School, Carbondale
Sopris Elementary School, Glenwood Springs
Glenwood Springs Middle School
Glenwood Springs High School
Aspen Journalism’s 2015 operations
Donors in 2015 (thank you!):
Arches Foundation
Aspen Business Center Foundation
Bob Bowden
Brett Family Foundation
Carol Craig
Nick DeWolf Foundation
RJ and Nancy Gallagher
Mark Harvey
Cathy and Walter Isaacson
Margulf Foundation
Ernst and Wilma Martens Foundation
John McBride
Michael McVoy
Tim and Donna McFlynn
John Orr
Barbara Reeves
George Stranahan
Revenue in 2015: $127,949 (Per Form 990)
Expense in 2015: $116,785
Revenue over 5 years, 2011 through 2015: $581,928
Reporting capacity in 2015: 1 FTE and $25,000 in freelance reporting capacity.
Number of stories published in 2015: 83
Reach/potential audience:
Reach via The Aspen Times:
67 stories published, at 9,000 potential print readers per story, but likely far less than that.
67 stories published, at 30,000 potential online readers per story, but likely far less than that.
Reach via the Glenwood Springs Post Independent:
28 stories published at 9,000 potential print readers per story: 252,000, but likely far less than that.
28 stories published, at an average of 600 unique page views each (per publisher Randy Essex): 16,800
Reach via the Aspen Daily News:
4 stories published, at 14,500 potential print readers: 58,000, but likely far less than that.
4 stories published, at 15,000 estimated potential online readers: 60,000, but likely far less than that.
Reach via Coyote Gulch:
35 stories published. Coyote Gulch, an annotated blog of Colorado water news stories and information, had 239,517 views and 75,287 visitors in 2015. The number of click-throughs to the more heavily viewed stories by Aspen Journalism posted on Coyote Gulch in 2015 ranged from 50 to 450.
Reach via Aspen Journalism’s website, www.aspenjournalism.org:
Online traffic January 1, 2015, to January 1, 2016
Sessions: 91,358
Users: 77,843
Page views: 110,815
Social media stats (as of August 2016):
Twitter: 986 followers
Facebook: 374 likes
Impact:
Aspen Journalism’s stories in 2015 did not, admittedly, spark any immediate reform that we can point to. However, the stories we produced kept an engaged audience well-informed about a number of important issues related to water and education.
The Water Desk covered, for example, the first-ever Colorado water plan, the prospects of future transmountain diversions, potential dams on Castle and Maroon creeks, the legal status of private streams, Glenwood’s proposed water rights for whitewater parks on the Colorado River, and damage to Grizzly Reservoir.
And the Education Desk covered the issues of school superintendent contracts, student drug and alcohol use, principal turnovers, and a school-funding election.
Journalism advisory board
Roger Adams, former news director, Aspen Public Radio
Dave Danforth, owner and staff mascot, Aspen Daily News
Charles Davis, dean, Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Georgia
Charles Firestone, executive director, Aspen Institute Communications & Society Program
Laura Frank, executive director, Rocky Mountain Investigative News Network, and vice president of news, Rocky Mountain PBS
Sarah Gilman, contributing editor, High Country News
Rem Rieder, editor at large and media columnist, USA Today
Curtis Robinson, co-founder, Roaring Fork Sunday, former editor, Aspen Daily News
Steve Skinner, general manager, KDNK, Carbondale
Andy Stone, columnist, former editor, The Aspen Times
Mike Webb, sales and marketing director, Honolulu Civil Beat
Aspen Journalism board of directors
Tim McFlynn, chair
Tim is the executive director of Public Counsel of the Rockies, the chair of Pitkin County Open Space and Trails Board, and a Manaus Fund board member.
Edgar Boyles
Edgar is an Emmy-winning cameraman and director of photography at WildWood Films in Aspen. Edgar has 40 years of experience filming in mountainous and remote locations.
Mark Harvey
Mark Harvey is a writer, filmmaker and photographer. He is the author of “The NOLS 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 McVoy
Michael is an Aspen-based investment adviser, the former co-publisher of The Aspen Times, and a Manaus Fund board member.
Harry Teague
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 of ProPublica in New York.