Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Report: Kansas City Star to shut down several bureaus

A source is telling Bottom Line Commications the Kansas City Star plans to shut down several bureaus.
The Kansas City Star will likely eliminate its KCK, Northland and Eastern Jackson County Bureaus in its continuing effort to reduce costs, according to an anonymous source close to the situation.

There is no official word on the status of the Star employees in the impacted bureaus. At this point the Johnson County Bureau is reportedly not included in the bureau closings.


Several years ago the Star made a concerted effort to increase its presence in outlying areas and be the major source for suburban news. However, with the current sad state of newspapers, those plans are being dramatically scaled back.


"Some editors watched the suburban competitors like The Sun and Bradley publications like hawks and were obsessed with putting them out of business," said the source. "I'm sure the Star wounded them but it looks like they will live longer than the Star."

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22 comments:

Anonymous said...

I know a lot of the participants on this blog work there.

To those of you who represent American values, I am truly sorry for your loss, and the road ahead.

As to the others…, I’ll wait till the thread gets out of hand to deal with you.

Anonymous said...

More good news folks

Hearst says cuts needed or SF Chronicle may be closed

The Hearst Corp. said Tuesday that unless the San Francisco Chronicle can undertake "critical" cost cutting measures including job cuts within weeks, the company will be forced to sell or close the newspaper.

Hearst said the Chronicle lost more than $50 million last year and added that, "this year's losses to date are worse." The Chronicle has had major losses each year since 2001, Hearst said.

The closely-held media company said cost reductions including an unspecified reduction in union and non-union employees are needed to restore the Chronicle to health.

Anonymous said...

I wish this wasn't happening to the newspaper industry. It's so sad to see it go down the toilet so fast. To all at the KC Star: My thoughts are with you on your journey ahead. As a former KC Star staffer, I know what you're going to be faced with. It's going to be a tough row to hoe.

Kevin Gregory said...

Latest info on the San Francisco Chronicle:
"The Hearst Corp. today announced an effort to reverse the deepening operating losses of its San Francisco Chronicle by seeking near-term cost savings that would include "significant" cuts to both union and non-union staff.
"In a posted statement, Hearst said if the savings cannot be accomplished "quickly" the company will seek a buyer, and if none comes forward, it will close the Chronicle. The Chronicle lost more than $50 million in 2008 and is on a pace to lose more than that this year, Hearst said." [link]

Anonymous said...

The cancer must have metastasized quickly. I don’t recall any mentions of the Chronicle's death earlier.

Anonymous said...

The SF Chron news may not be far from what McClatchy has to do to stay in some sort of business. This sounds extremely bad.

Anonymous said...

I feel for the Star the same way they felt for the ones they put out of business. Couldn't happen to anybody better. Now for the big one (THE GLASS TOMB), only a matter of time. Can't wait!

Anonymous said...

The "Hearst Corp" needs to know the world doesn't need fewer journalist, it needs more readers.

(Hint: giving the finger to have the potential customers - in any business - results in failure.)

Anonymous said...

The Chronicle lost more than $50 million in 2008 and is on a pace to lose more than that this year, Hearst said." [link]
-----
With all due respect gracious host. It is customary and considered good form to warn before posting links to the SF Gate and NY Times. It prevents needless cookie cleaning as they sell lists that most do not want to be on. (If you know what I mean)

Anonymous said...

As of now nobody in the Kansas City Star bureaus is losing their jobs they are just moving to the downtown headquarters, it is purely a way to cut some overhead costs. The Johnson County office will be staying out in Olathe as The Star owns that building. Layoffs are still 3-4 weeks out in KC

Anonymous said...

Maybe some day people will wake up!
This entire economic fiasco is all being engineered by design.
You think Obaaaaaama (insert sheep sounds here) is going to save you?
Journalism is dead. Do you REALLY think "They" are going to report any truth? Especially to all the useless eaters?

I don't know what will become of the newspaper industry, hey, maybe we'll 'socialize' that too along with the auto industry, the banking industry, health care, etc. etc.

getting the picture yet?
welcome to the U.S.S.A.

Anonymous said...

The 'Change you can believe in,' is that everyone will be equally poor. I just saw an a TV spot about everyone driving tiny cars, living in tiny houses, living the green life! Say hello to Cuba-like living, but the liberals will tell you the people there are happier than we are. Anyone watching the tax cheats and liars that will be in charge of our country, surely can see we have more serious problems than the newspapers going bankrupt.

Anonymous said...

Postal increase drives another nail in the coffin.
------------
@Fitz & Jen
Analysis of a Postal Hike

Jen: Newspaper publishers who are dependent on the mail for delivery are going to feel the affects of price hikes this spring. I wrote about one weekly in Indiana, The Bloomfield Free Press, that is going Web-only because delivering through the mail was too costly. Dead Tree Edition looks at the postal rate increase and surmises that light weight publications are going to feel it more. .
http://nbm.typepad.com/fitz_jen/

Anonymous said...

I thought we voted Bush and his pals out in November. Are they Back?

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

Is THIS the part where we get to do jumping jacks?

Anonymous said...

PRU....The CHRONICLE might be for sale soon. Sure, it's a money-losing proposition. Sure, no one with half a brain would consider buying it. But you, Gary....why you could sharpen the ole pencil and work your magic so's to add it to the long list of failures you've already accomplished on behalf of MNI. What's one more bottomless pit of debt compared to what you've done thus far? Beats cost cutting your way into oblivion, right?

Anonymous said...

Re: thought we voted Bush and his pals out in November. Are they Back?
========
Please do not confuse the tax cheats and crooks before you as anyone connected to the former President Bush.

Anonymous said...

7:20 So enlightened, sophisticated and inebriated. Did you impress yourself with your superior vocabulary? Your cognitive insight of the genetic traits of others, while demonstrating your heightened plane of existence is astounding. My how impressive you are.

I just hope your mommy or the guard wasn't looking over your shoulder. Off to bed with you now. You can tell everyone of your great verbal victory at recess...or the yard, which ever is applicable. If it is the yard, tell bubba we said hey. Don't drop the soap.

Anonymous said...

Will MNI management be like Tierney and company and screw the pooch till the paper dies?


The owners of The Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News made their case in U.S. Bankruptcy Court yesterday why they should remain in charge.

But lawyers for the investors who hold $297 million in debt said they were stunned that Brian P. Tierney, chief executive of the papers, had turned away from a $20 million lifeline from current lenders in favor of a loan that would protect his job, according to a court filing and testimony at yesterday’s opening hearing in Philadelphia.

Instead, Tierney and his backers lined up a $25 million loan - known as debtor-in-possession financing - from a different group that included Philadelphia Newspapers chairman Bruce Toll.

It includes a provision that would put the loan in default if Tierney left the company.

Mr. Tierney went ahead and gave himself a big raise at the time he was trying to get wage concessions from the newspapers’ unions.

Anonymous said...

5:53 Are you kidding "nobody is losing their jobs"?

Since your full of information what about "The Glass Tomb" anybody losing their jobs there?

Anonymous said...

8:13 - I believe I said no jobs were cut YET. If you finishied the comment you would see that it is still a couple weeks out