Longtime Denver Post Journalist Fred Brown Dies at 85

Brown was an ethics and open government advocate who covered Colorado politics for decades.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 8:26pm

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A dimly lit, cinematic interior scene of an old-fashioned newsroom, with a lone figure sitting at a desk in the foreground, bathed in warm, diagonal sunlight. The room is filled with the shadows of desks, typewriters, and other vintage office equipment, evoking a sense of quiet contemplation and the passage of time.The passing of longtime Denver Post political journalist Fred Brown marks the end of an era for Colorado's storied newspaper industry.Denver Today

Fred Brown, a longtime political reporter at The Denver Post who worked at the paper from 1963 to 2002, has died at the age of 85. Brown was remembered as an 'institution' at The Post and a tireless advocate for media ethics and open government access. After retiring, he continued to influence the next generation of journalists as a media ethics instructor at the University of Denver.

Why it matters

Brown's passing marks the end of an era at The Denver Post, where he was a respected and influential voice in Colorado politics for over three decades. His commitment to journalism ethics and government transparency left a lasting impact on the media landscape in the state.

The details

During his tenure at The Denver Post, Brown covered Colorado politics as a reporter, chief of the paper's Capitol Bureau, political editor, and columnist. After retiring in 2002, he went on to serve on the boards of the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition and the Colorado chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, where he continued to advocate for media ethics and open government. Brown is remembered as a kind, witty, and deeply principled journalist who helped keep The Post's newsroom grounded.

  • Fred Brown worked at The Denver Post from 1963 to 2002.
  • Brown died on Wednesday, April 2, 2026.
  • The Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition and the Colorado chapter of the SPJ plan to host a celebration of Brown's life at the Denver Press Club in the coming weeks.

The players

Fred Brown

A longtime political reporter at The Denver Post who worked at the paper from 1963 to 2002. He was an advocate for media ethics and open government access, and continued to influence the next generation of journalists as a media ethics instructor at the University of Denver after his retirement.

Jeff Roberts

The executive director of the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition, who confirmed Brown's death.

Mark Harden

A former colleague of Brown's at The Denver Post who also served on the local SPJ board with him.

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What they’re saying

“He never stopped doing things. We are really sad. He was just a wonderful person.”

— Jeff Roberts, Executive Director, Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition

“He had a dry wit that was delightful in a stressful situation. He always seemed like one of those people who would go on forever.”

— Mark Harden, Former Colleague at The Denver Post

What’s next

The Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition and the Colorado chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists plan to host a celebration of Fred Brown's life at the Denver Press Club in the coming weeks.

The takeaway

Fred Brown's passing marks the end of an era at The Denver Post, where he was a respected and influential voice in Colorado politics for over three decades. His unwavering commitment to journalism ethics and government transparency left a lasting impact on the media landscape in the state, and he will be remembered as a kind, witty, and deeply principled journalist who helped shape the next generation of reporters.