Local news is broken.
You already know this. You've noticed the sensational headlines designed to scare you. You've seen stories that feel incomplete—short on facts, long on attitude. You've watched outlets chase clicks instead of truth.
In Southern Colorado, you deserve better than clickbait. You deserve news that helps you understand what's actually happening in your communities.
So we built Tri County News differently.
The Problem With "Traditional" Local News
Most outlets do this:
- Hide their sources: "Sources say..." (which actually means: we won't tell you who or back it up)
- Use sensational language: "SHOCKING decision," "OUTRAGED residents" (designed to make you afraid, not informed)
- Pick sides: They cover what makes one group look good and what makes another look bad—leaving you unable to actually decide
- Skip the legwork: They report gossip instead of getting the documents that prove what actually happened
- Never correct themselves: Publish something wrong? Most outlets pretend it never happened
This isn't journalism. It's performance.
Here's What We Do Differently
1. We Name Our Sources (Or We Tell You Why We Can't)
When a county commissioner tells us something, we use their name and title. When a resident shares a concern, we tell you who they are and why they matter to the story. When we can't name someone, we explain why—and we earn your skepticism.
You get to verify. You get to decide if you trust what we're reporting.
2. We Link to the Documents
When we tell you "county records show $47,000 in grants unaccounted for," you'll be able to see those records. We're not asking you to trust us—we're showing you the work.
3. We Show Up. We Stay.
We monitor or attend every county commission meeting. Every school board meeting. Every public hearing. Because understanding what's happening requires it.
This makes us experts. And experts can't be fooled as easily as outlets that parachute in for a single story.
4. We Cover All Sides Fairly
When county commissioners disagree on a decision, you hear from the commissioners supporting it AND opposing it—in their own words. You get to understand both perspectives. Then you get to decide.
This isn't "balance." It's fairness. It means we ask hard questions of everyone—not just the side we think is wrong.
5. We Correct Ourselves. Publicly.
When we make a mistake, we fix it prominently. We fix it immediately. We don't bury corrections on page 27. We show you what we got wrong, how we fixed it, and why accuracy matters more than our ego.
Mistakes happen. Integrity is what you do about them.
6. We're Hard-Hitting, Not Sensational
There's a difference:
Sensational: "County Commission's SHOCKING decision raises concerns about transparency" (emotion, no facts)
Hard-hitting: "County Commission approved a $2 million contract without a public hearing, violating state law. The decision bypassed the normal bidding process." (facts, let readers draw their own conclusions)
We want you informed. Not scared. Not manipulated. Informed.
What You Can Expect From Us
We're committed to:
- ✅ Naming our sources (or explaining why we can't)
- ✅ Linking to documents we cite
- ✅ Publishing corrections quickly and prominently
- ✅ Explaining our reporting process
- ✅ Covering all sides fairly
- ✅ Monitoring every public meeting
- ✅ Responding when readers think we're wrong
This is how local journalism should work.
We Need You
Quality reporting costs money. We're not funded by a chain based in Denver or a hedge fund. We're member-supported, which means your subscription directly funds accountability reporting in your community.
When you subscribe to Tri County News, you're not just getting news—you're helping fund investigations that keep power honest. You're investing in journalists who show up to meetings on Tuesday nights so you don't have to. You're supporting a newsroom that answers to you, not algorithms.
[Subscribe to Tri County News] and help us prove that local journalism done right is worth supporting.
Welcome to news you can actually trust.