Every time I think that the Star’s Ink Mag – for the younger demo – has hit bottom, they come up with something even worse and more embarrassing. The latest stunt from Ink is yet another “hottest reader” competition that proves the effort is like a printed, useless dating rag full of nothing but fluff.
That’s what the Star gets for cloning Ink and importing its editor from Des Moines
It’s hard to imagine a more obvious waste of paper. Maybe if the AARP newsletter actually held a “World’s Greatest Grandpa” contest it might come close but the stories would certainly be more inspirational. Still, the vapidity of this effort is quite astonishing for the dead tree form of media that’s quickly circling the toilet bowl of history. Sadly, there are many reasons this won’t make Ink any less worthless.
First of all, there isn’t a seriously attractive person with half a brain who would enter this lame contest willingly.
I guess a model in need of some free press might find the opportunity worthwhile but these honors usually go to the same kind of middle-management corporate d-bags the Star would like to attract as readers. A contest like this only attracts the most generically attractive people who are most likely pimping their looks to every under-qualified PR junior executive in this Cowtown. Conversely, any person to sign up for this contest is pretty much admitting that they probably have some self-esteem issues or at least a REALLY obvious need for approval from strangers. Both of these character flaws are forgivable and probably beneficial for an interesting date, but not exactly something worth showing off to locals doing their recycling.
Also, this old school marketing ploy speaks of the dated sensibilities of Ink staffers. Again, we’re following Des Moines here, people. While entertainment journalism can educate and provoke enlightening conversation when done right, a contest so brazenly superficial isn’t really befitting the media savvy millennial generation.
Ci
it’s hilarious that you think Ink is/is meant to be a “hipster” paper.
hearne
Um, I think Tony is being sarcastic, Ci
Oh No
Ink has it’s place. Under The Pitch.
Kia Zi
The young demo? Hookers are hookers, no matter who employees them. They’d suck my pussy if I gave them a dollar. No body from any where can relate to K.C. except people who have been born and raised in K.C. No body with a brain reads or blogs on KC Star. The lame ass boring ass wipes that clog up that particular line need to get a face book and beg for some one to listen to their lame stupid shit they call their every day lives. If you want intelligence, facts or statistics stay away from those stupid morons on KC crime scene blog. All they want to do is tell you about how fucked up they are and how shitty they feel today because they had to crawl their lazy Johnson County asses out of bed to drink coffee and take a shit while their so much better than the rest of us relatives rode a train in England instead of paying for a good old fashioned KC hooker to fist fuck them to sleep so they could wake up relaxed and actually understand what it is like to live in a crime riddled city where no one is safe. Get those old fucks off line and in the nursing homes where they belong. They have done enough damage to KC. You would think that in it’s last days, KC star would find a way to salvage them selves besides relying on whores and stupid asses who have nothing more to say but how hot it is outside and calling everyone with knowledge a lier. Most of them don’t live in KC and sure the hell shouldn’t be allowed to be a voice in anything that has anything to do with this city. If KC Star wants to encourage them as a voice, maybe they should call them and beg them to buy their news paper instead of calling my house everyday.
Johnny P
You people give the star more free pub than anyone. You should just let it die on it’s own and it will probably go out of bidness much faster.
bschloz
What do young people read? Texts? Facebook?
It is what it aint…content is king…
Is Whitlock still on vacay? Must be nice huh
Where’s my Wednesday rant?
MOMomey
Yeah, but Ink knows how to make money which is more than you can say for your shitty hypercritical digital scribblings.
Everytime I think of The Star I get all red inside because they didn’t hire me and I’m better than all of them put together is, as always, what you meant to say. So just go ahead and say it for Christ’s sake.
It is, as always, fucking hilarious to watch you melt down every day.
Eric
This is the first time I’ve read something of Tony’s that I agree with. I pick up INK once in a while if I need a good laugh. It simply makes me feel better about myself. But seriously, does anyone read it? I went to Costentino’s downtown to buy some groceries last night and there was still a HUGE stack of last week’s paper sitting there. I mean, that’s directly under The Jones pool, douche bag central. Isn’t that their core audience?
waste
Well said Eric, I have seen huge stacks of old INK issues all over this town that never get picked up. Might be time to actually cut that circulation a bit to save some trees and $ for The Star
craig glazer
Tony has some good points, and you guys hit it on the head….young people, don’t read anything, I mean anything but text and front page on Yahoo…thats it, reading is now, out of style, too much work…and its the continued dumbing down of America…we are just about totally dumb now….
kcgirl
This contest is an insult to INK’s own (as few as there may be) readers. Being a young woman, who is in their so called “demo” (although I never read their “paper”), I find it truly revolting that INK feels, a 20/30-something really cares who is the hottest in KC. Many of us are educated professionals, who actually do care about REAL things that are happening in our economy, environment and country. Our generation has to battle with this superficial stereotype, that they are working so hard to create everyday. I am actually embarrassed for the staff at INK… Do they really think that this is what inquiring minds want to know? Are they that dense? And as for the waste of paper… well that is as obvious as all the uncapped oil that is spewing in the ocean right now.
Music downloads
This is my first time I have visited your site. I found a lot of interesting stuff in your blog. From the volume of comments on your posts, I guess I am not the only one! keep up the great work.
Mireya Lidstrom
Good job!
Foyer
Laurie Mansfield is NERD CITY!
The DLC
I love how grownup old men can assert themselves as authorities on “young people.” Yes times have changed but I assure you that many young people read a lot-just not the same stuff we did when we were young. Just because they aren’t reading Ayn Rand or Reader’s Digest doesn’t mean it’s not valuable.
Eric
Unless they are reading INK. Show me one valuable article in that publication.
Og?oszenia ?wiecie
My thoughts on the subject are similar, but certainly there will be people who will have a different opinion.
Verna Buquet
Great stuff. Thanks for posting.
Comment of the Week: KC Girl Hammers INK for Bogus Hottie Co
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