08-29-2010 KAVANAUGH WRITES BODINE STORY; BARNHART BEGS FOR AIR TIME It was an odd juxtaposition of roles. The Kansas City Star called on veteran writer Lee Hill Kavanaugh to do a write-up on the 90th Birthday party for local media legend Walt Bodine. And she delivered a superb tribute to the man who has been involved in the KC media for more than 60 years. In fact, the University of Missouri-Kansas City has even created a scholarship in his honor. Ironically, Star Radio/TV critic Aaron Barnhart, who has been criticized for his lack of coverage of local media happenings, has been a regular guest on Bodine's show on public radio station KCUR for years. However, he wasn't interested in covering the Bodine tribute. He was more interested in making sure he would still be getting future radio exposure on KCUR. Barnhart devoted less than a single sentence on his TV Barn blog to Bodine's Birthday. He was more interested in announcing Bodine's replacement. But, Barnhart didn't just introduce Jabulani Leffall as the new Monday thru Thursday host of the Bodine show (Bodine will still do it on Fridays). He used it as a way to brown-nose and beg Leffall for a continued spot on his show. After writing an absolutely glowing review of Leffall's talents based only on a note from the KCUR program director---without actually speaking to him---Barnhart had a message for Leffall, "Hey, don’t forget your regular guests!" He later added, "My first impression? A person who lists “The Wire” as first among his favorite television shows on his Facebook page and poses next to a marquee for the “Mad Men” season four premiere is someone I can’t wait to sit down and talk TV with." If Leffall is wise he had better have Barnhart as a regular guest on his show. Or it is likely future write-ups will not be as glowing. It was shameless. And embarrassing.
09-14-2010
BARNHART LISTENING? "Your criticism and reporting on Aaron Barnhart has been dead on. Ever since your report, he has done more local reporting. I think he was sensitive to those reports. He seems to respond to online posts. I’m surprised I didn’t see a response from him to your Aug. 11 report."
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