Spend your lunch break with Rocky Mountain PBS
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DENVER — We’ve reached a point where “news” has become shorthand for “an upsetting thing that happened far away from me, such as Washington, the Middle East or the polar ice caps.” I don’t blame people for not wanting to expose themselves to those types of stories every day. Many people are choosing not to.
This type of reporting is essential. It is not hyperbole to say that reporting from the front lines of war, famine and political campaigns has changed the world. But, it’s not without cost.
This work takes a toll on the reporters and editors as well as the readers. In a recent Pew survey, the number one feeling people reported after reading and watching the news is “informed.” Great!
But the next three most common? “Angry,” “sad” and “scared.” In last place was “empowered.” That’s not so great.
The good news — heh — is that this genre of news, essential as it is, is just one part of the much broader institution of journalism, which also includes photo essays, culture reporting, interviews, longform documentaries, social media videos and more.
These are areas where Rocky Mountain PBS thrives, which is part of the reason we’re launching a newsletter called “Lunch Break.”
Every afternoon, subscribers to Lunch Break will receive a new piece of journalism from the Rocky Mountain PBS newsroom directly to their inbox. There are no pop-ups, paywalls or clutter. Just Colorado-focused journalism from people who live and work in your community. We hope you’ll spend your mid-day break with us.
Every afternoon, subscribers to Lunch Break will receive a new piece of journalism from the Rocky Mountain PBS newsroom directly to their inbox. There are no pop-ups, paywalls or clutter. Just Colorado-focused journalism from people who live and work in your community. We hope you’ll spend your mid-day break with us.
Being informed should not feel like a chore. With “Lunch Break,” we want our readers to look forward to engaging with journalism. We will provide thorough coverage across Colorado and remind our readers that journalism can be fun, too.
We’re not going to put our heads in the sand or ignore serious topics. Journalism is more necessary than ever. But we also won’t scare or enrage our audience for clicks. Our coverage will continue to include topics such as climate, immigration, protests and LGBTQ+ rights — but from a perspective of empowerment through answering questions: Who is accountable? Who is working to fix this? What can we do?
Have questions about Lunch Break? Good! We have some answers.
What can I expect?
Beginning Oct. 27, Lunch Break will hit your inbox every day, Monday through Friday, around noon. Our hope is that you’ll be able to take a break from the lunchtime doomscrolling and turn to Rocky Mountain PBS for thoughtful, thorough reporting on the environment, the outdoors, history, arts and more.
The newsletter will also feature dispatches from reporters across Colorado. We’ll provide details on what we’re really into at the moment, whether that’s a great book, a new hike we discovered or a recipe that we really enjoyed. Probably also pictures of our pets. We hope our readers will share those updates with us as well.
Who is going to be sending this to me?
That would be me, Kyle Cooke. I’m the news editor at Rocky Mountain PBS, and for the last several years I’ve produced Spotlight, Rocky Mountain Public Media’s flagship newsletter. I’m excited to introduce a journalism-specific newsletter!
Why are you doing this?
Attention, mostly!
Just kidding. Producing a daily newsletter is something that the journalism team at Rocky Mountain PBS has been wanting to do for a long time. And thanks to the support of our community, our team is now operating at full force; we have the capacity to bring you at least one impactful story every day — ideally one you won’t get anywhere else.
Isn’t that what your website is for?
Good point. Yes! But we also understand that the online news landscape is changing quickly. We appreciate the many Coloradans who routinely visit our website to read our reporting, watch our documentaries and check the schedule for their favorite shows. But we also know that web traffic is trending down, due in no small part to Google’s “AI Overview” that is resulting in people visiting fewer websites. That includes rmpbs.org.
By providing our journalism in a packaged newsletter, we can directly communicate with our readers. We can more easily learn what kinds of stories people like and dislike, and adjust as needed. The newsletter will also give our readers the chance to learn more about our reporters — what makes them tick, what they’re working on and how readers can get in contact with them.
Gotcha, that makes sense. Where can I sign up?
If you’re already a subscriber to our weekly newsletter Spotlight, you will start receiving Lunch Break Oct. 27. You can also sign up for all of our newsletters here.
What if I have feedback or constructive criticism?
We have a phrase at Rocky Mountain PBS that “feedback is a gift.” Corny as that may sound, it’s true. We love to hear from our community, especially when folks have questions about our journalism or reporting process.
Feedback is also going to be a huge part of this newsletter’s launch. We want to provide something that people will make a part of their day. If you have feedback about Lunch Break, please let us know.
You can always email our team at journalism@rmpbs.org. If you have questions or feedback for a specific journalist, you can find their contact info here.
Is there anything else I should know?
I think that about covers it! Let me know if you have any other questions.
Didn’t you write these questions?
Ah, right.
Type of story: Announcement
Announcements and updates concerning Rocky Mountain Public Media provided by the organization's director of communications, unless otherwise noted. These announcements are not impartial, fact-checked journalism. To read more about why you can trust the journalism of Rocky Mountain PBS, please visit our editorial standards and practices page.