The Ridgway Sun is a weekly newspaper

Newspaper

A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...

 based in Ridgway

Ridgway, Colorado

The Town of Ridgway, coined Gateway to the San Juans, is a Home Rule Municipality in Ouray County, in the southwestern portion of the U.S. State of Colorado. The town is a former railroad stop on the Uncompaghre River in the northern San Juan Mountains...

, Colorado

Colorado

Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...

 and owned by Ouray County

Ouray County, Colorado

Ouray County is one of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado in the United States. The county population was 3,742 at U.S. Census 2000. As of 2010, U.S. Census data place the population at 4,436. The county seat is the City of Ouray...

 Newspapers. Known as the "Newspaper that refused to die" it remains the newspaper of record

Newspaper of record

Newspaper of record is a term that may refer either to any publicly available newspaper that has been authorized by a government to publish public or legal notices , or any major newspaper that has a large circulation and whose editorial and news-gathering functions are considered professional and...

 for Ridgway.

History

The Ridgway Sun was founded by Grant Turner, publishing its first edition in 1909. In a time when newspapers espoused political affiliations, the publication was officially Republican

Republican Party (United States)

The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...

. However it was Turner's policy not to denounce the Democrats

Democratic Party (United States)

The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...

, and proclaimed a sincere respect for both parties. Turner published for nine years before selling to John J. McCarthy and E.W. Roscoe, who published for another eight years. Grover C. Huffnagle, editor under McCarthy and Roscoe, then took over and published until 1928.

The Sun then languished until its rebirth April 3, 1980, under the leadership of Joyce Jorgensen, publisher and editor of the Ouray County Plaindealer and the Ouray Herald. In 1990, both the Ridgway Sun and Ouray County Plaindealer

Ouray County Plaindealer

The Ouray County Plaindealer is a weekly newspaper based in Ouray, Colorado and owned by Ouray County Newspapers. It is the newspaper of record for the city and county of Ouray.-History:...

 were purchased by Guy and Marcia Wood. In 1995 both newspapers were purchased by current publisher David Mullings and Ouray County Newspapers.

Editorial policy

In a statement published in the Ridgway Suns print editions, the paper's goals are described:

...To accurately and comprehensively report news of importance to the people of Ridgway and the area.

...To be a strong, independent voice on local public issues, and to provide a forum for open discussion of those issues.

...To provide a marketplace for local businesses and individuals, so as to encourage a healthy local economy.

...To be a responsible and profitable business.

Awards

The Ridgway Sun is a frequent winner of Colorado Press Association awards in its class, and in 2007 Publisher David Mullings received the state’s “Service to the First” (Amendment) award. He was recognized for initiating action against the Ouray County Board of County Commissioners that resulted in an open process of selecting planning commissioners, and for enduring sharp and anonymous attacks on the newspaper and his credibility for the challenge.