Last one out…
With Kansas City Star parent McClatchy struggling to keep its head above water, another round of ostensibly voluntary buyouts / layoffs is now under way at the newspaper.
The most notable journalist preparing to walk the plank: Mark Davis.
In recent years the venerable reporter has ridden point on major business news stories about iconic Kansas City companies like Sprint, AMC and Hallmark.
No mas…
Davis has reportedly opted to take the 55-and-older, Star bucks farewell cash and run.
Leaving relative newbie Steve Vockrodt – a refugee of the Kansas City Business Journal and Pitch – to help ride herd over what passes for local business news.
Once upon a time there were no fewer than a dozen reporters and editors who rallied around the newspaper’s so-called business desk.
And not that many years ago they put out a Star Business Weekly, MoneyWise personal finance magazine, Year End Stock Reviews, Mutual Fund Review, Star 50 (top 50 local and regional companies) and Digital Prairie.
Towards the end – to the extent that it’s starting to increasingly feel like an end – the Star charged extra for special business sections (kinda like they charged extra for Thanksgiving Black Friday ad inserts.
At this stage of the game, Davis is essentially the last of a dying breed, the likes of which included names such as Jerry Heaster, Jennifer Mann, Chris Lester, Dan Margolies and Charlie Crumpley.
Almost forgot, and business gossip columnist Joyce Smith who continues to hang on.
The Star’s snail slow languishing is pitiful to behold.