Enough with the overwrought hyperbole…
That’s basically my take on the voluntary, paid departures recently announced at the Kansas City Star.
No need for handwringing here. The fact that a handful of writers – mostly at or near retirement age – are golden parachuting their way out of a highly untenable situation at the newspaper is, for them anyway, undoubtedly a relief.
Because going from more than 2,000 employees to around 200 the past 10 years has hardly been a joy ride.
Not after having to endure countless rounds of out-of-the-blue, not-so-voluntary layoffs.
Remember the infamous “Hunger Games” debacle I wrote about a few years back?
The one where award winning investigative reporter Karen Dillon and a younger reporter were left to decide among themselves which would walk the plank?
At this stage of the game most of the dearly departing are senior citizens when it comes to buying movie tickets. What did anybody think – that they were going to die on the job or something?
Steve Vockrodt
Which isn’t to say they’re washed up…
But it’s not like the growing stable of younger, hipper, lower-paid, staffers taking their places are incapable of practicing, you know, journalism.
Besides, by far and away the heaviest hitters that roamed the hallowed hallways of 18th and Grand are long gone already. Not to mention that the folks heading out to pasture now are probably going sleep a whole lot better and have a nice chunk-o-change to boot.
And hey, look at the bright side…
Newspaper nostalgists still have Joyce Smith and Eric Adler to kick around.
Is that a trans in the first photo?
Uh, no
Looks like one of the Monty Python guys in drag.
Easy there, JS…be kind…
You should see what look like!
You are fucking despicable for printing that comment and even worse for responding that way. You are a desperate loser.
I thought about whether or not to run this comment but…
In the end, I’d like to think it says more about the writer than the target (as in moi).
For starters, it’s fairly chickenshit to identify yourself in part, but not have the fortitude to go all the way and use your name.
I understand that online commenting is a sacred thing, but come on…
Secondly, the crude language and bombast about my being a “desperate loser” are just enough over the top to maybe make readers who might wonder whether I’m writing this with foam dripping off my chin, wonder otherwise.
Maybe not.
Nonetheless, I’ve always tried to look for an alternative perspective and this was – I’d like to think – an example of that.
I mean, all the handwringing over a handful of quality writers – albeit not superstars – taking optional buyouts, seems a bit overwrought.
Think about the heavy hitters that have gone before them…Jason Whitlock, Joe Posnanski, Dan Margolies, Kevin Collison, Chris Lester – that list is endless.
These people were able to make their own choices – take a six month salary paycheck and other considerations – and are now free to get on with the rest of their lives – free from the visage of the Grim Reaper haunting their dreams.
And while Star readers are still learning the names of their younger, lower paid replacements, let’s not write them off just yet, merely because they’re relatively new to the journalism game.
The reference was to you allowing some commenter to call Lynn a trans and you cruelly printing it, not your commentary.
Hey, I let your chickenshit ass unleash me a crude reference to me.
Deal with it, or come out, come out wherever you are and stand by your others hollow words.
I’m confused, does she have a dick or not?