Rocky Mountain News will shut Friday

The Rocky Mountain News, Colorado’s oldest newspaper will print its final edition Friday.

Founded in 1859, the Rocky becomes the largest newspaper to fall in this cycle, with a weekday circulation of 255,427 and 704,806 on Sundays.

Owner EW Scripps had warned that the paper would close if a buyer wasn’t found in December. In a statement today, the company said that “the Rocky is one of America’s very best examples of what local news organizations need to be in the future. Unfortunately, the partnership’s business model is locked in the past.”

Over 200 employees will lose their jobs, although the company said they would remain on the payroll through to April 28, despite the paper closing this week.

One down, a several thousand to go.