As local signs of the Apocalypse go, this one ranks right up there – journalistically speaking…
For the first time – maybe ever – the Kansas City Star has festooned its front page with advertising. While it doesn’t identify the bright red Super Target schmooze as an ad – it spans the width of the newspaper and stands about three inches high – that’s what it is.
How big a deal is it?
Here’s the reaction of one former Star staffer I contacted-
John Peace
People still read the KC Star?
smartman
Why the shock and surprise? The LA Times already did this…creating a front page piece for a new CBS or maybe NBC crime/drama series that looked like real news. With few exceptions the “honor and integrity” of straight news went out the window a long time ago. For those that care enough to look for it the real news is available from dozens of other sources, in real time. Newspapers are going the way of the horse and buggy. Deal with it. If this is what the Star needs to do to survive…so be it. I don’t like it but actions like this do have consequences and the consequence of this action is just another step towards the Star going out of business and becoming an online only publication.
JS
Ditto, smartman! We are in the 21st century and have the availability of many news sources at our fingertips. Printed newspapers (old news) are antiquated and it is time for them to say good-bye. Online is the future and I think the Star has a good start on their future with their online publication.
BS
I noticed all the ads on your front page. Your trivial content on this site smacks of desperation, patronage and bitterness.
hearne
You wouldn’t be BS-ing me, wouldya?
The Holy See
WORTH MENTIONING is the reader rep’s take: “It’s an ad sold by the McClatchy Company, The Star’s parent, in all its papers with a Super Target in the area. The campaign will run for several weeks, and there may be other advertisers in that spot as well. It’s currently planned to run on Sundays only.”
smartman
Touche’ BS…Good One! And good comeback from the reporter…but the point goes to BS. Well Done!
hearne
Sounds like the reader rep is blaming the parent company. Like the local guys would never stoop so low. If they are going to do it, why finger point? Just come clean and admit they want and/or need the money?
Big difference between a largely entertainment Web site and the front page of a major daily newspaper. KCC takes ads online, like the Star and Pitch, and has from the get go. No excuses.
The Star spent like decades shunning front page print ads, and only now, in its darkest hour is it backtracking. There is a difference, once you cut through the BS, BS
Geoff Daniels
Anyohe who compares newspapers written by “journalist” to the subjective drivel found on the internet is ignorant (to say the least)…
BS
I definitely agree there is a big difference between a major daily newspapaer and a blog. Any joker off the street can “publish” a blog.
hearne
Good point BS, glad you can see the difference. Just don’t forget that the jokers publishing this blog spent dozens of years practicing actual newspaper journalism and would be still but for the current state of the industry/economy
Bob Berdella
John Mark Eberhart is the only former Star reporter you know, so why not just say it was him?