“The entire Kansas City Star isn’t much bigger that the first section of the Arizona Daily Star.”
That’s how Tucson’s newspaper stacks up against the local paper of record, in the words of one Star subscriber.
In addition to having no fewer than a dozen ad inserts, Tucson’s daily has a full-sized A section, that includes a wide variety of news stories without one single headline with the word Trump in it!
Seriously. Actual news about topics like border security, digging up gangster John Dillinger who was captured at a downtown Tucson hotel, clashes at last night’s Democratic party debate and a 10-year-old girl that dragged a toddler to safety.
And get this, no pushy, preachy editorials talking down to readers.
What will they think of next?
Followed by a healthy, 16-page Nation & World section.
Complete with stories about California requiring presidential hopefuls to show tax returns to be on the ballot, a coming interest rate cut, two-pages of food and recipes and – get this -just two non derogatory headlines with the word “Trump” in them.
Go figure.
Followed by a comprehensive eight page sports section, including feature stories about how former Chiefs star Tony Gonzalez “revolutionized” the role of tight ends and a piece remembering New York Yank‘s star Thurman Munson who died in a plane crash 40 years ago.
And last but not least…
An eight-page Tucson & Region section, complete with local news, such as a dude trying to sell his sportscar on Craig’s List – the one he crashed into a giant saguaro cactus that crashed through the front windshield where it still remains. And s story about an Arizona court ruling that police need warrants to obtain IP addresses, local news shorts, classified ads, games, puzzles,cartoons and TV listings.
Oh yeah, and nary a single Donald Trump hatchet job.
Get the picture?
Now let’s put it all in perspective.
Greater Kansas City is more double the size of Tucson.
That said, Tucson’s Arizona Daily Star is literally kicking butt and taking names compared to KC’s newspaper of record.
Gee, I wonder why.
Could it be that focussing on actual news and opinion rather than imitating MSNBC is less off putting to readers?
Exactly.