06-20-2008 SAD TIMES FOR JOURNALISM IN KANSAS CITY
By John Landsberg
The field of Journalism will never be the same following the recent staff reductions at the Kansas City Star("Bloodletting at KC Star). According to Star reporter Dan Margolies, about 22 newsroom positions out of 285 will be eliminated in the latest round of cutbacks. Overall, about 120 folks at the newspaper are receiving pink slips. In terms of actual numbers, and compared to other businesses, the layoffs aren't really all that significant. However, in terms of the information provided to the citizens it is monumental. As far as journalism goes the KC Star sets the standard in Kansas City. No TV, radio or other media outlet is even in the ballpark when it comes to the size and quality of journalists on its staff. The reality is that most stories in other media outlets are based on Star stories. When journalists are terminated there are a number of repercussions: * Years of high-quality journalistic standards are gone forever. * Those journalists who remain will think twice about doing any serious journalism, particularly when it might involve an advertiser. * Many of the reporters who remain at the paper will keep their jobs for reasons such as diversity other than journalistic ability. * With fewer journalists there will be fewer stories and the paper's news hole will continue to shrink. It is a sad day whenever a business has to reduce staff. It is even sadder when it happens at a major newspaper.
FEEDBACK FROM STAR REPORTER (06-18-2008):
"...By the way, I really thought your piece today on the Star was thoughtful and deadly accurate. These newspaper layoffs across the country are continuing the dumbing down of America...it still makes me sad in terms of what these cuts mean to the coverage of Kansas City. "And as you pointed out, it will have a trickle down effect on TV and radio -- most of whom won't know what stories to chase if we keep losing people."
Copyright 2008 by bottomlinecom.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. EMAIL
