Layoffs at The Star
-
- Strip mall
- Posts: 284
- Joined: Tue Nov 30, 2004 10:46 am
- Location: Kansas City
KC STAR Layoffs?
Is there a KC media blog? What are people hearing about the STAR layoffs? If there are 20 (of 120 total) leaving the newsroom, it certainly will effect the coverage of local news, something the STAR was weak on already. Who is gone?
- Mr. Cranky
- Pad site
- Posts: 58
- Joined: Mon Jul 18, 2005 9:53 am
Re: KC STAR Layoffs?
It's the Newspaper Death Spiral.
Anyway, John Landsberg keeps an eye on The Star over at bottomlimecom.com (the extra com is for communications). He had a post about it here. (no names yet sorry)
Sound familiar? If The Star can get out from under its corporate ownership (Florida and California is dragging McClatchy down the drain) it might be all right, since it obviously still is profitable, especially if you can send a reporter to Las Vegas to cover Women's Olympic Wrestling trials.Newspapers will be forced to lay off staff in order to maintain margins. Cuts in services will lead to cuts in editorial coverage, making papers less relevant to subscribers. As circulation declines, advertising rates will have to come down to remain competitive. This will put more pressure on margins, leading to more layoffs, more cost cuts, more circulation declines and more pressure on margins. Once this spiral begins, it will accelerate with breathtaking speed.
Anyway, John Landsberg keeps an eye on The Star over at bottomlimecom.com (the extra com is for communications). He had a post about it here. (no names yet sorry)
- Czar
- New York Life
- Posts: 366
- Joined: Mon May 19, 2003 10:45 am
Re: KC STAR Layoffs?
Lets all contribute $10 a piece as part of the early retirement program to fund the "Get Rid of Yael AbouFUNKha"
-
- Oak Tower
- Posts: 4633
- Joined: Wed Feb 19, 2003 2:42 pm
- Location: Midtown/Downtown
- Contact:
Re: KC STAR Layoffs?
The Star needs a better proportion of reporters who live in the city. Over 1/5 of the metro lives in KCMO. Seems that nearly all reporters live in the burbs and KCMO is therefore talked about as an outsider. Getting rid of Yael would be a good start to begin the balance. Hendricks too.
But this medium is in trouble in the long haul. By the time the speed texting teens hits their 30s, carbon-based media will longer be needed and news blogging will rule.
But this medium is in trouble in the long haul. By the time the speed texting teens hits their 30s, carbon-based media will longer be needed and news blogging will rule.
___________
City guide via MAX bus
City guide via MAX bus
-
- Bryant Building
- Posts: 4209
- Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2005 11:25 am
- Location: brookside
Re: KC STAR Layoffs?
Without traditional media to provide real news, there won't be near as much to blog about.ignatius wrote: The Star needs a better proportion of reporters who live in the city. Over 1/5 of the metro lives in KCMO. Seems that nearly all reporters live in the burbs and KCMO is therefore talked about as an outsider. Getting rid of Yael would be a good start to begin the balance. Hendricks too.
But this medium is in trouble in the long haul. By the time the speed texting teens hits their 30s, carbon-based media will longer be needed and news blogging will rule.
- KCMax
- Global Moderator
- Posts: 24056
- Joined: Wed Aug 04, 2004 3:31 pm
- Location: The basement of a Ross Dress for Less
- Contact:
Re: KC STAR Layoffs?
I could be wrong, but I thought Yael lives in Kansas City. The suburban part of Kansas City, but I believe he lives in the city limits, near Raytown.ignatius wrote: The Star needs a better proportion of reporters who live in the city. Over 1/5 of the metro lives in KCMO. Seems that nearly all reporters live in the burbs and KCMO is therefore talked about as an outsider. Getting rid of Yael would be a good start to begin the balance. Hendricks too.
-
- Oak Tower
- Posts: 4633
- Joined: Wed Feb 19, 2003 2:42 pm
- Location: Midtown/Downtown
- Contact:
Re: KC STAR Layoffs?
^Ah, if so, he belongs in Phoenix or Florida. Seems to fit his sensibilities.
___________
City guide via MAX bus
City guide via MAX bus
- chrizow
- Global Moderator
- Posts: 17170
- Joined: Fri Aug 08, 2003 8:43 am
Re: KC STAR Layoffs?
the point is still that there needs to be more urban KC voices in the Star. living out near raytown or way up north does not equal "living in the city" even if the address is technically KCMO. the suburban fringes of KCMO have much more in common with the areas of grandview, raytown, liberty, independence, etc. the city abuts than the urban core.
-
- Strip mall
- Posts: 284
- Joined: Tue Nov 30, 2004 10:46 am
- Location: Kansas City
Re: KC STAR Layoffs?
Unfortunately is sounds as if there will be fewer voices period in the STAR, KCMO residents or not.chrizow wrote: the point is still that there needs to be more urban KC voices in the Star.
And a shrinking newshole providing even less information about local and regional issues.
The Business Journal may have the opportunity step in and become a more diversified paper?
-
- Bryant Building
- Posts: 4209
- Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2005 11:25 am
- Location: brookside
Re: KC STAR Layoffs?
The Business Journal is great a repurposing press releases.Pastense wrote: The Business Journal may have the opportunity step in and become a more diversified paper?
The Star is trying to make money and the money is in the suburbs. Sad but true.
-
- The Quiet Chair
- Posts: 14070
- Joined: Wed Aug 04, 2004 5:57 pm
- Location: Sunny Johnson County
Re: KC STAR Layoffs?
I thought he lived in Brookside, by 70th & Oak or so?KCMax wrote: I could be wrong, but I thought Yael lives in Kansas City. The suburban part of Kansas City, but I believe he lives in the city limits, near Raytown.
At any rate, I've said for years that the Star's political slant (ultra-left) has alienated 1/2 the metro area. There's no balance in their edit board. So all I ever read is the Sports. But I can get that online, on chat boards, on the TV, and even on sports talk radio.
Whitlock is the only content the KC Star has, that I want.
[img width=472 height=40]http://media.kansascity.com/images/champions_blue.gif[/img]
"For 15 years...KU won every time. There was no rivalry" - Frank Martin
"For 15 years...KU won every time. There was no rivalry" - Frank Martin
- chrizow
- Global Moderator
- Posts: 17170
- Joined: Fri Aug 08, 2003 8:43 am
Re: KC STAR Layoffs?
i have never once read anything "ultra-left" in the Star. if you think the Star is ultra-left, you are crazy. i don't doubt it skews "mainstream liberal," but that's about it. the syndicated pieces in there from michele malkin, on the other hand...Maitre D wrote: At any rate, I've said for years that the Star's political slant (ultra-left) has alienated 1/2 the metro area. There's no balance in their edit board.
- GuyInLenexa
- Alameda Tower
- Posts: 1012
- Joined: Wed Oct 16, 2002 1:10 am
- Location: Fort Worth, TX
Re: KC STAR Layoffs?
I am not sure where HE lives. On one of the panel TV shows he is on he mentioned his children going to Raytown schools. They could be from a previous marriage.
-
- Bryant Building
- Posts: 4209
- Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2005 11:25 am
- Location: brookside
Re: KC STAR Layoffs?
If you want to know where someone in Jackson County lives, go to http://www.jacksongov.org/content/1177/ ... fault.aspx, click on Tax Search and Payment, and search by last name.GuyInLenexa wrote: I am not sure where HE lives. On one of the panel TV shows he is on he mentioned his children going to Raytown schools. They could be from a previous marriage.
- KCMax
- Global Moderator
- Posts: 24056
- Joined: Wed Aug 04, 2004 3:31 pm
- Location: The basement of a Ross Dress for Less
- Contact:
Re: KC STAR Layoffs?
And George Will. And Kathleen Parker. Not to mention local columnist Tom McClanahan.chrizow wrote: i have never once read anything "ultra-left" in the Star. if you think the Star is ultra-left, you are crazy. i don't doubt it skews "mainstream liberal," but that's about it. the syndicated pieces in there from michele malkin, on the other hand...
- Mr. Cranky
- Pad site
- Posts: 58
- Joined: Mon Jul 18, 2005 9:53 am
Re: KC STAR Layoffs?
And the first name is...classical music critic Paul Horsley.
Over at TV critic Aaron Barnhart's web site which is actually a Star blog anyway. He's also set up a farewell site here for the others who allow use of their name, but no one's on it yet.
Over at TV critic Aaron Barnhart's web site which is actually a Star blog anyway. He's also set up a farewell site here for the others who allow use of their name, but no one's on it yet.
-
- Oak Tower
- Posts: 4633
- Joined: Wed Feb 19, 2003 2:42 pm
- Location: Midtown/Downtown
- Contact:
Re: KC STAR Layoffs?
I wonder if The Star will use freelance writers to replace those they cut? Or will there no longer be any coverage of classical music? Or worse, written up by someone who knows nothing of the subject?
___________
City guide via MAX bus
City guide via MAX bus
- DaveKCMO
- Ambassador
- Posts: 20100
- Joined: Sun Nov 27, 2005 6:22 pm
- Location: Crossroads
- Contact:
Re: KC STAR Layoffs?
screening your employees based on their place of residence isn't a good idea. their staff probably reflects the locales of their paying subscribers anyway; such is the reason for a "johnson county" edition. it's silly for anyone to expect more from a newspaper that serves a mostly-suburban metro.
to ignatius' comment, there's absolutely no reason to have a staff full of salaried writers these days. most magazines don't (except the biggies), they just have editors.
to ignatius' comment, there's absolutely no reason to have a staff full of salaried writers these days. most magazines don't (except the biggies), they just have editors.
-
- Bryant Building
- Posts: 4209
- Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2005 11:25 am
- Location: brookside
Re: KC STAR Layoffs?
The separate JoCo edition was discontinued with the redesign two years ago.DaveKCMO wrote: such is the reason for a "johnson county" edition.
-
- The Quiet Chair
- Posts: 14070
- Joined: Wed Aug 04, 2004 5:57 pm
- Location: Sunny Johnson County
Re: KC STAR Layoffs?
Obv you'd think that.chrizow wrote: i have never once read anything "ultra-left" in the Star. if you think the Star is ultra-left, you are crazy. i don't doubt it skews "mainstream liberal," but that's about it.
Anyway, I think in the 2004 elections, I posted their endorsements. In something like 11 of 12 races, they endorsed the Democrat. Adn the only Republican was Kit Bond. Kit Bond! And in the article, they denounced his "racist" past of denying that Fed Judgship for that black STL guy, and said they only favor him b/c he brings Pork to the area.
That's balanced?
[img width=472 height=40]http://media.kansascity.com/images/champions_blue.gif[/img]
"For 15 years...KU won every time. There was no rivalry" - Frank Martin
"For 15 years...KU won every time. There was no rivalry" - Frank Martin