UPDATED REGULARLY!! HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO SOME SPECIAL MEDIA FOLKS By John Landsberg In media circles, 2008 has been probably the most challenging in Kansas City history. Cutbacks at the Kansas City Star have been devastating to its news product. We have lost many good media folks we have worked with for years. These are some of the people we are giving thanks to this year: Dan Margolies---He generally is the one stuck writing the layoff stories at the Star while his friends are getting the axe. He is a great reporter and probably the last one we want investigating us. Steve Kraske---He covers the political beat expertly and also does a great job hosting his own talk show on KCUR. He had me on a media panel on his show and it showed an eye for talent(?). Rhonda Moss--She was the brightest spot at sports talker KCSP and the station sucks without her. Don't get me going on the wisdom of them whacking her. Larry Moore, KMBC---He was presented with the prestigious "Truman Humanitarian" award in September for his tireless work in the community. Keep 'em coming. He deserves them all. Mike Hendricks, KC Star--He despises bloggers and even hates us, but we still like Mike for some strange reason. We respect his journalistic integrity and loyalty to the print media. John Holt at FOX4---One of the nicest guys in the TV business who emcees every event in the city not currently being handled by Larry Moore at KMBC. Tony Botello---He operates tonyskansascity.com and we finally had a chance to meet this year. Although we sometimes disagree on issues, he is a neat person and breaks a lot of news around here, which irritates the hell out of journalists. Elizabeth Alex at KSHB-TV--She got married this year and it really seems like she is happier on the air. She's a fine anchor. Paul Wenske--The Star's ace consumer reporter was whacked at the paper, but landed a nice position with the Federal Reserve Bank. It was well-deserved. Chris Stigall on KCMO 710---While we sometimes differ politically, he has some of the most creative shows on talk radio. And he frequently gives us good plugs, which is always a plus. Mike Fannin, editor, KC Star---The poor guy was promoted to editor one minute and then told to start firing fellow workers the next. At least he has job security. Hearne Christopher Jr. ---The Star columnist was a surprise pick to get whacked this year. Although we (and the Pitch) loved to poke him, it was not a wise move by KC's largest newspaper. Lee Judge--Probably the biggest stunner with the Star layoffs. No one gave the newspaper its personality as much as he did as its political cartoonist. Wish I had met him. Darla Jaye of KMBZ-980---The station blew it when they moved her from mornings to evenings for a syndicated show. Expect her to move to a bigger market in the future. Darn it. State of the Line---A blog created this year that is really terrific. It is extremely well-written and a joy to read every morning. Mike Thompson, FOX4 weather guy---A genuine nice guy in all of the media who was honored by being inducted into the "Silver Circle" at the Emmy Awards in October. He doesn't try to scare the hell out of viewers for ratings, which is a rare gift these days. Jeff Flanagan, formerly of the KC Star---Another stupid move was giving him the heave-ho this year. Not only did he write a super column, but his blog was growing by leaps and bounds. Damn. Pete Grigsby---We wish him well in his new career as a high school teacher, but still miss him as a weekend meteorologist at KMBC. He pulled off a very classy departure. Mark Alford, Fox 4 morning guy---How can you not like a TV guy who is also a bonafide cowboy? He does a lot of good in the community. Walt Bodine, KCUR---He is a true KC icon who turned 88 in July. Here's hoping he has his 10 a.m. show for another 20 years. Darcie Blake, KUDL---She is a classic example of how a a talented person can be tossed aside in the brutal radio business. Aaron Barnhart--The Star's TV columnist and champion blogger with his TVbarn site, he became a bit too political during the campaign, but provided some great information for me to steal. Kris Ketz, morning guy at KMBC-- Super nice guy who has worked hard for his success. He was honored at City Hall for 25 years of service this year which was a rare occasion where the politcos got it right. Ruth Baum Bigus--She writes the "Best Business Practices" article in the Star's business section and is a joy to work. Her stuff is always accurate--a rarity these days. Candace Buckner, KC Star--Definitely an up-and-comer in sports, the Star reporter has an ability to make high school sports interesting. Jim Davis, KC Business Journal---It was a stunner when he died at the age of 49 this year. He could be difficult to work with, but no one knew the commercial real estate market in KC like he did. Dana Wright, morning host at KCTV5---She is really a hoot. When we said she was like a balloon with the air being let out she thought it was hilarious. She's good people. DeAnn Smith--The Star's investigative superstar reporter should probably be the last one let go at the paper. Sometimes even the Star knows when it has solid talent. Jack Harry, sports director at KSHB-TV41---The only TV sports guy in town who tells it like it is, we were sorry to see his five-year-old show on KMCI get cancelled. Who cares if the show was losing money, it was a quality production. Mike Fannin---The good news he was named the editor at the KC Star this year. The bad news is he has spent most of his time firing his friends. Kelly Scanlon of Small Business Monthly and Steve Fisch of KC Sports & Fitness--Both of them have allowed me to write columns for their publications again this year. Yes, I come cheap.
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