12-03-2008 THE SOURCE DISPUTES ZIEMAN INFORMATION The Source (LINK), a conservative blog, says the information provided by KCStar Publisher Mark Zieman regarding circulation numbers is bogus. Ironically, the Star links to the site from its own Web site: "Zieman writes that the Star has �1 million local readers a week.� We can tell you this is an exaggeration in several senses. Zieman tries to define �readers� by guessing how many people might read a single copy. This is an old newspaper trick designed to make numbers look better for advertisers. "The facts are, according to McClatchy�s own website, that 2007 circulation numbers were just over 250,000 for the daily paper. If you access the non-biased data at the Audit Bureau of Circulations (www.accessabc.com) you find that the Star is losing paying customers at the rate of about 10,000 per year. This is not a healthy trend."
All is well at the Kansas City Star.
11-30-2008 STAR PUBLISHER: ALL IS WELL AT NEWSPAPER According to Kansas City Star President & Publisher Mark Zieman, all is well at Kansas City's largest newspaper despite ongoing layoffs of prominent staffers, outsourcing of jobs to India and staff morale reportedly at its lowest point in the 128-year history of the paper. In a special column in the Star (11/30) Zieman wrote: "To be sure, this year has been particularly difficult for newspapers, including your hometown Star. The deep and widening recession has significantly reduced our advertising revenue, which has forced us to slash expenses and lay off valued employees. "We also are reorganizing our staff so that we can continue to expand our online site, KansasCity.com, to meet growing readership and advertising demand. Meanwhile, the continuing Wall Street panic has left many newspaper stocks at record lows, leading some investors to flatly declare that the printed newspaper is dead. "Yet The Star still shines, a fact that comes as a shock to my friends, colleagues and even relatives. As publisher, I am approached as people would greet a dying man, with eyes downcast and in hushed tones. They are relieved to discover I�m optimistic about The Star�s future. They are astounded to hear we�re still solidly profitable." Based on the feedback from readers on the Star's Web site many people disagree: http://pod01.prospero.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?msg=55179&nav=messages&webtag=kr-kctm
McCLATCHY WATCH DISAGREES... McClatchy Watch, a blog site (LINK) devoted to examining the situation at McClatchy-owned papers like the Star summarized his column differently: "So the actual facts are different from Zieman's glowing report about one million readers of the print edition and four million hits on the web site in October. "Who you going to believe, a deluded publisher? Or the Leading Indicators?"
FEEDBACK (12-01-2008): "I really like this site's treatment of the Star, but I'd like to see something done to explore Rhonda Chriss-Lokeman's relationship with the paper. Mark Zieman was told by McClatchey early on to let her go, and instead they came up with a scam where she registered herself on Creators.com, an online syndication service. "Anyone can become "syndicated" on Creators if they agree to pay the fee, and it immunizes Lokeman from charges of nepotism. I would also like to see how many major dailies carry Lokeman, as I hear it is only the Star."
No Business or Travel Sections in Sunday's paper evidently discontinued because of cuts. Yet Mr. Zieman took a 1/2 a page to WHINE but never mention his role in sending jobs to India. Actually the word India never came up. Hm mm.
12-03-2008
"The article in the Sunday Star by Zieman has been his mantra since taking over as publisher, that of readership and penetration of the combination of the paper and kansascity.com. While it may be true, the low ad rates on the website can never make up for the shortfall of the print revenue.
"As for the Travel section, one has to search for it. It is now a "back front page" section on the back of A&E, like what they did with the Faith section. Essentially last Sunday's Travel section was one page with a jump page with the ads. It is a shame as this used to be one of the better medium size market travel pages in the country."
12-03-2008
"Actual circulation numbers have been deemed irrelevant by the newspaper industry. The "readership" number is what's important. "This is the number that assumes the paper has been read by the subscriber, his/her spouse, and their children. And then left on a (nonexistent, in KC) subway, read by four more people, and then transferred to a (largely nonexistent) commuter bus, where it is read by four more people. "To whom was Zieman directing his column ... to his readers, or to his potential advertisers? Because I�m sure The Star�s ACTUAL subscribers, while watching their product shrink before their eyes, will be much relieved to know that the paper�s "market penetration" remains strong. Just as I�m sure that the legions of journalists who were laid off in the last half-year will be thrilled to know that their former paper is still "solidly profitable."
12-07-2008
"Great work on the site. The Star magazine's celebrity/reader mishmash is another reason why the Star is falling. Their continued scam of soliciting content from readers lowers the paper to a church newsletter. Can't blame the economy or Funkhouser for that, huh?"
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