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The New Colorado Springs Independent

Pikes Peak Media Company Leads Revival of the Colorado Springs Independent and the Colorado Springs Business Journal

Colorado Springs, CO- February 15, 2024- Entrepreneurs Kevin O’Neil and JW Roth have established Pikes Peak Media Company (PPMC) and, through this new venture, have taken ownership of two key local publications, The Colorado Springs Independent and the Colorado Springs Business Journal. This strategic move aims to revive and sustain these publications, while ensuring that these critical components of the Colorado Springs media landscape remain operational and under local ownership.

Former Colorado Spring Independent Publisher, Fran Zankowski, has been named Interim Publisher and will oversee the search for a new Editor, Publisher and additional Editorial Staff. Fran most recently oversaw the Colorado Springs Independent and Colorado Springs Business Journal until its closing in December of 2023 and was previously with the publications for over a decade.  

“The Colorado Springs Independent and the Colorado Springs Business Journal have a 30-year legacy of outstanding journalism,” said Fran Zankowski, Interim Publisher. “Collaborating with JW and Kevin has been exciting as we propel the papers to new heights with expanded city-wide coverage. With their advocacy, the publications are set to grow and become a thoughtful voice for the city.”

Under PPMC's stewardship the publication’s printed distribution will be drastically increased to upwards of 30,000. With printed copies directly mailed to households and placed in traditional distribution racks across the Pikes Peak region. This distribution initiative aims to triple the previous readership and engage a larger footprint of neighborhoods in the region, heralding an exciting new chapter for these publications. The initial phase and publishing schedule will commence with the Colorado Springs Independent in Spring 2024, followed by the revival of the Colorado Springs Business Journal. 

JW Roth, co-founder of PPMC says “As a 5th Generation Coloradan, I take great pride in providing my hometown with another trusted, civic driven, and relevant publication. This opportunity offers the Independent and the Business Journal a chance to thrive under unprecedented stability. From the feedback that we are hearing, this is a welcomed change in historical landscape.”

“As a native of our region, I have invested in many businesses and organizations in Colorado Springs and this opportunity fit my focus on building a stronger community where a diverse range of voices are heard.” Says Co-founder of PPMC, Kevin O’Neil. “A robust media landscape telling all our stories makes our community better, so I am pleased to be in a position to support this effort for Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak Region. We are excited to engage with our unique neighborhoods, industry, arts and culture, academia, non-profits, civic organizations, and the military to showcase what makes us one of the best places to live and work.”

Yemi Mobolade, Mayor of Colorado Springs said in response to the news of the revival, “I applaud and appreciate the efforts of these local leaders to lead a resurgence of the Colorado Springs Independent and the Colorado Springs Business Journal. These publications hold a unique place in the Colorado Springs media landscape, offering a platform for diverse perspectives and contributing to the civic life of Colorado Springs. Our local news outlets serve a core public service and are critical to community building. The information shared through these outlets is vital in giving residents the information they need to improve their quality of life.” 

“We are excited about PPMC’s acquisition of the Colorado Springs Independent and the Colorado Springs Business Journal, creating jobs, and bringing in new energy and diverse perspectives to continue to inform and tell the Colorado Springs story,” said Johnna Reeder Kleymeyer, President & CEO of Colorado Springs Chamber & Economic Development Corporation. “Kevin O’Neil and JW Roth are visionaries that love our region and are invested in driving the growth and prosperity of the Pikes Peak region. Today’s announcement is an affirmation of their commitment to our region.” 

Following its hiatus, the Colorado Springs Independent and Colorado Springs Business Journal, a cornerstone of the community for three decades, is now primed for a remarkable resurgence. PPMC's acquisition encompasses all rights to the brands, trademarks, copyrights, and associated events of both the Colorado Springs Independent and the Colorado Springs Business Journal. 

About Pikes Peak Media Company: Pikes Peak Media Company (PPMC) is a dynamic media enterprise founded by Kevin O’Neil and JW Roth, dedicated to revitalizing, and enriching the media landscape in Colorado Springs. Through strategic acquisitions and innovative initiatives, PPMC aims to foster community engagement and deliver quality content to audiences across the region. 

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Opinion: Never forget our Black heroes

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Diverse City

The 80th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor was commemorated last month. The event, of course, drew the United States into World War II — a war that would not have been won without the contribution of Black Americans, a fact that often flies under the radar. 

Just a little over a year before the attack, in September 1940, after much pressure and to help get the Black vote, President Franklin D. Roosevelt announced African Americans could be trained as pilots. Due to segregation, Moton Field in Tuskegee, Alabama, was the only primary flight facility for African American pilot candidates in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. The opportunity for excellence presented to those men still resonates with Black pilots two generations later (more on them in another column).   

The “Tuskegee Experiment,” the 99th Squadron, was designed to show that Black people were inferior in intelligence to their white counterparts. The program was meant to fail; exams were purposely longer and harder. In this part of the Deep South (this is, after all, the same town where syphilis studies on Black Americans took place), you can bet there was local resistance to their presence. Only five of the first 12 candidates passed. 

Much of this widely held belief that Black Americans were intellectually inferior was based on a 1925 “study,” conducted by the Army War College on Black soldiers. It concluded: “It is generally recognized the full-blooded American negro is inferior to our white population in mental capacity. All officers without exception agree that the negro lacks initiative, displays little or no leadership, and cannot accept responsibility. Some point out that the defects are greater in the Southern Negro. An opinion held in common by practically all officers is that the negro is a rank coward in the dark.” 

Even though Black pilots were required to have a college degree to fly (their white counterparts only needed a high school diploma), they would not be deterred. They were determined to push past the adversity. They held each other accountable to “stand up straight and fly right.” They were not the first Black pilots (civilians could fly if they passed the aviation exam), but they understood this was their moment to represent themselves, their community and the nation. It was their mission to prove they could do the job. 

Completely dismantling the racist myth, close to 1,000 Black fighter pilots were trained between 1941 and 1946, hundreds were deployed overseas, and 150 lost their lives either by accident or in combat. These airmen fought in over 1,500 combat missions including close to 200 bomber escort missions. They destroyed 112 enemy aircraft. According to Tuskegee University, “The Airmen’s success in escorting bombers during World War II — having one of the lowest loss records of all the escort fighter groups, and being in constant demand for their services by the allied bomber units — is a record unmatched by any other fighter group.” Despite their significant contributions to the Allies’ victory, they fought for an America that was not ready to honor them, and actively fought against them. These stellar pilots, as civilians, could not get jobs in the commercial sector. The Tuskegee Airmen were not properly recognized for decades. 

Some things never change. There are still efforts to ignore, or even rewrite, America’s history into something more palatable. Some want to whitewash slavery and its legacy, so it’s more important than ever that we emphasize the contributions and experiences of Black Americans such as the Tuskegee Airmen — not just as a part of Black history, but as stories that make up the fabric of American history. An honorable mention once every February is a disservice. 

The Tuskegee Airmen were credited by higher commands with the following accomplishments: at least one Silver Star; 96 Distinguished Flying Crosses to 95 Airmen (Captain William A. Campbell was awarded two);

14 Bronze Stars;

744 Air Medals; and

8 Purple Hearts. 

Editor’s note: This is the first in a three-part series on the historic Tuskegee Airmen and the new generation of Red Tails.