Overview:
Veteran 9News journalist Gary Shapiro reflects on local news, media trust, retirement and the future of Colorado storytelling.
For more than three decades, Gary Shapiro was one of the most familiar faces in Colorado news. As the longtime morning anchor at 9News, he guided viewers through breaking stories, community celebrations and everyday life in the Mile High City with steadiness and warmth. Even now, as he is “semi-retired,” Shapiro continues to report feature stories and specials, but without the 2 a.m. wake-up call.
Shapiro’s perspective has broadened as he has stepped back from the daily grind of the newsroom. He now watches more local, national and international news than he could while anchoring, and he still follows the work of Colorado journalists closely. From that vantage point, he sees both the immense pressures facing reporters and the ongoing importance of local newsrooms to civic life.
As part of our ongoing 5 Questions series, Shapiro reflects on how the industry has changed over his 50-year career, the challenges facing journalism today and why he remains optimistic about the role of local reporting. He also speaks about the merger questions looming over his former station and what consolidation could mean for viewers. And, because retirement is still meant to be enjoyed, we talked about how he’s been spending his newfound time.
You’ve been retired from TV News for a while now and are on the outside looking in. What are some of your observations?
I’ve been partially retired from TV News for almost three years now. I’m still doing features and specials for 9News and some other freelance work, but I’m away from the day-to-day grind of the newsroom. I get to watch a greater variety of TV news than I did when I was doing it, and I’m still very proud of the work of my former colleagues and the reporters, photographers and producers at other stations. Local news is more important now than ever, and I know the content you see every day is presented with fairness, passion, compassion and expertise. Colorado is and always has been very lucky because the TV stations here attract very talented people, especially photojournalists.
Local news, like other forms of journalism, is under attack by people who aren’t happy with what they see and hear for one reason or another. I think it just increases the desire on the part of local journalists to make sure they are factual and trustworthy. I believe it makes them work harder to hold government and businesses accountable and tell stories that affect people’s lives. They try every day to make sure you get accurate and timely weather, traffic and sports, because it’s an important part of local news.
How do you get your news these days, and what would you suggest to the community about how they get theirs?
I try to get my news from many sources. I’m a news junkie, always have been. As I’ve mentioned, I still watch a lot of TV News, both local and network. I read The Denver Post and The New York Times every morning. I get headlines from other newspapers, both local and national, and follow up if something catches my eye.
I’m a big newsletter reader. I read articles from Axios (both Denver and Boulder versions), Katie Couric’s daily newsletter, Relix, The Know (Denver Post), and, of course, Bucket List Community Cafe (which I love). I follow reliable social media sites. I don’t watch a lot of cable news these days but will check in now and then with CNN or MSNBC (especially for live coverage of events). I don’t watch FOX News often but am occasionally interested in their take on a big story.
What do you think about all the changes and challenges faced by news, including at your former station, and where do you see the future?
TV News, both local and national, has changed so much in my 50-year career. It’s still changing, and it’s an extremely challenging time for journalists for all kinds of reasons, including economic reasons. While I believe local stations still have a pretty good business model and still make money, it’s not the kind of money they made in the 70s and 80s when TV news was often the only ball game in town.
Technologically, news gathering has never been better. You can now do things we only dreamed of when I started, including going live from the scene of an event halfway around the world with just a camera, backpack or phone. But viewership is very fractured these days because of lifestyles, political partisanship and digital preferences. People have so many options to get their news. It’s hard because there’s so much misinformation. I believe it’s up to people to choose wisely and rely on sources that have proven to be reliable over time.
As for the future of 9News, I’m not sure what’s going to happen. The station’s owner, TEGNA, is pursuing a merger with Nexstar Media Group. Nexstar owns channels 31 and 2 in Denver. Under current FCC rules, a company cannot usually own more than two top stations in a market. That will probably change under the Trump FCC. I believe it would be unfortunate if it does, not only for my friends at 9News who could be laid off in consolidation, but also for viewers who deserve diverse, vibrant TV news.
Finally, how do I feel about the future of local TV? I think it will be around for a long, long time, but maybe not in the same form. People depend on local news for everything from the weather forecast to knowing whether I-70 is shut down again. Local sports are extremely popular in this market. Viewers want information on voting and the candidates. Investigative journalism is the heart and soul of local TV news, and the watchdogs at local stations try and keep people up-to-date when things aren’t what they seem to be.
People may get this information in the future online, on an app, in social media posts, over the air, on cable or in some new way not invented yet. But I believe there will always be some form of local TV News to provide the content and serve the public.
What are your pet projects since you’ve stepped away from daily news, and how do you like retirement?
I’m still doing enough media work to keep my hand in the business, but I’m not working five days a week and not getting up at 2 a.m. for the morning show. I still love telling stories, and 9News has been great, letting me continue my monthly feature series “Positively Colorado.” I get to introduce viewers to interesting people and places—this month, we took a tour of Fairmount Cemetery with local historian, author and character Phil Goodstein. I’m also still doing specials for the station, and around Thanksgiving, people will be able to watch a 30-minute program called “Colorado’s Lost Places.” It’s five places that were historically important that aren’t around anymore.
I’m also doing a bi-monthly show for the Colorado Communications and Utility Alliance called “Connected Colorado.” It can be seen on Denver and Aurora Cable TV, and other cable stations around the state. But beyond my work, retirement has been wonderful. I have so much more time to do things I love doing: riding my bike and going to Pilates classes. I still love skiing, going to concerts, getting together with friends and traveling. I’m reading a lot more books. And I get to stay up “late” to watch the Broncos, Nuggets and Avs. I really love being semi-retired.
You go to a lot of concerts. What are the most memorable musicians and shows, and where do you like to see music?
I love this question because I love music so much. Going to shows and listening to music enriches my life in many ways. It helps pick me up when I’m down, it entertains me and raises my awareness of what’s happening in society. Music starts and adds to political discourse, and it provides a soundtrack to our lives.
No surprise that my favorite artist is Bruce Springsteen. I’ve seen him more than 30 times (dating back to the Born to Run tour in 1975), and I think he’s the GOAT when it comes to live performances (even now when he’s in his 70s). I love the Rolling Stones, John Fogerty, Bob Dylan—actually, most of the classic rock and roll bands. But I also appreciate other middle-aged or younger musicians. One of my favorite bands is Tedeschi Trucks Band. The Bleachers are a killer band (led by Jack Antonoff, who also produces Taylor Swift), and Brandi Carlile is awesome.
I’ve been introduced to some newer bands that are so much fun, like Jesse Wells, Daniel Donato and Eddie 9 Volt. I love a bunch of local musicians; we’re so lucky to have them here. Nathaniel Rateliff, The Lumineers, Big Head Todd, String Cheese Incident, Chris Daniels and the Kings, Hazel Miller and Firefall, among others.
We have some of the best venues in the world here, including the best, Red Rocks, but Mission Ballroom and the Fillmore are wonderful too. It’s so awesome to see music in smaller places like the Ogden, Bluebird and Summit Music Hall. My wife and I still travel quite a bit to see music and bookended a trip to the UK recently with Springsteen shows in Cardiff, Wales and Dublin, Ireland.
Pro tip—feeling crappy? Throw a record on the turntable, fire up the CD player, turn on the radio or listen to some Spotify.