Brace yourselves, I’m about to pay my former employer a compliment…
It’s easy to play the role of critic – hey, we all do it. And when you present a target the size of the Kansas City Star anybody and everybody can and does play from time to time.
I’ve tossed my hat into that ring on any number of occasions – though as a banished Star staffer – not for what some might deem the obvious reasons.
JS
Hearne,
The band continued to play on the Titanic when it sank also. There are good people and writers who still work for the Star but the parent company is sick and the industry as a whole is sick. Advertisers have found better ways to reach their customers and that is the fuel that drives the newspaper. I can see some form of the paper surviving but not to the degree it was in its heyday.
If revenues continue to fall my bet is McClatchy will file bankruptcy some time this year and then all bets are off in regards to what survives out of it.
Rodger
Take the apostrophe out of the it’s in “getting it’s act together.” S/b “getting its act together.”
I’m just sayin’.
sunnyhello
Maybe it’s the Star’s “Last Night at the Lobster” moment (or “Big Night” moment, if you prefer) — at the end, one supreme effort to slip the leash of AP mediocrity, let the writers do what they trained to do well, and have a blaze of glory. Solid, professional, original reporting on interesting topics by writers who live among us: I never wanted a local paper that would keep up with CNN, MSNBC, and E News… I wanted this. I would have paid for more of this.
ManDshagger
The Star can make all the excuses that it wants to about the economy, falling ad revenue, etc. Bottom line is the leadership at the Star going back to Art “Insane in the Brain” Brisbane is responsible for not having the business vision and acumen to set the paper up for success through tough times. The Star chose to try and influence and shape the news instead of reporting on it. When hard news reporting gets mixed up with social agenda and opinion all is lost. Mike Fannin is the last guy that should be leading the Star at this point in time. Until someone who understands the new culture of media and business takes over the Star is doomed.