This just in from a now former Kansas City Star subscriber who emailed the following to the newspaper’s publisher, got a polite, friendly response but asked that her name not be used…
“Dear Mr. Zieman,
This morning after 29 years, I have finally cancelled my subscription
to the Kansas City Star . Receiving a daily newspaper was always
something to which I looked forward. As your rates increased and the
content reduced, financially I had to subscribe to only week-ends.
Those rates have risen as well. I can’t afford you anymore as there is
no cost benefit.
I’ve disagreed with the editorial content for years. As I did want to
know all opinions, I understood that. The columnist selection was
fairly good, but that selection has diminished as well.
As a newspaper that proclaims to be a regional newspaper you have
failed. The reporting for Kansas readers is pathetic at best. The
editorials that advise the Kansas Legislature to raise taxes with
minimal reporting on the subject is arrogant and biased. I found
myself going on line to read the Topeka Capital Journal for
information about the Kansas Legislature. Your newspaper ignored the
protests of thousands of people on both sides of the state line last
year. Your newspaper ignored the Town Hall meetings in Kansas and
allowed Representative (Dennis) Moore to ignore his constituents without
criticism. His excuse of concern for his safety was not credible and
insulting to law enforcement.
Your blatant support of the Democrat Party has become too much to
bear. The KC Star supported the election of President Obama. Your
editorials supported the Health Care Bill. The report from D.C. on the
protest is inflammatory and based on hearsay.
I’m sure one less subscriber means nothing to you. I just wanted to
let you know why.
Sincerely,
D%$#@ R^&*()+
Overland Park, KS 66221″
*******
Ernie Pyle
So, Hearne–was the story held because of KU bias, or was it just general timidity? For afraid-of-their-shadows line editors, it’s always easier to say a story is being held (for space, or we couldn’t get a hold of the reporter after she went home, or the copy desk had a question about the 23rd paragraph), than to boldly publish it and get chewed out by the higher-up editors because they had to take an angry phone call or two.
Headline Writer
Headline:
TEABAGGING WINGNUT FOLLOWS MARCHING ORDERS, CANCELS STAR SUBSCRIPTION
Subhead:
Pledges: “It’s Fox News and newsmax.com for me!”
Story:
Big fucking deal.
hearne
The story was held because the sports editor prized the department’s relationship with Lew Perkins, et al and didn’t want to piss them all off. So we were required to go back and throw MU and K-State under the same bus, even though the news timing was all about KU. Adding the other schools (and dialing back the info about KU) diluted and weakened the story, adding little. Outside of peace of mind to certain people wanting to retain their schmooze.