Thursday, April 16, 2009

Shock!... Kansas City Star reduces High Society coverage

Former KC Star columnist Hearne Christopher says the Star is slashing coverage of society and charity events.
Like a thief in the night…


That pretty much describes how the Kansas City Star quietly bailed from the biz of covering charitable events and high society on a weekly basis.



While most local bloggers were playing pocket pool, recounting the demise of the more obvious, usual suspects - City Hall reporter [DeAnn Smith,] books editor [John Mark Eberhart,] etc., Star society or people editor [Ann Spivak] was quietly taking a behind-the-scenes bullet.



How hush-hush was it?


Even FYI section editors and staffers didn’t find out Spivak had taken the hit until her rehiring as a parttime editor and features writer was announced Monday.



“That’s bizarre,” says one society matron of Spivak and the society or people section’s unraveling. “But Ann told us that she got laid off and I sort of figured that (the section was history) when they let Ann go.”
The obvious question: why did the Star cut coverage of City Hall and local news before cutting High Society?

Hat tip: comments
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11 comments:

Anonymous said...

These high society useful idiots did their job helping odumbo get elected.

They are no longer needed, until three years from now.

Anonymous said...

MNI was smart NOT to tell them.

That way, “They’ll still be waiting for their close-ups”

Anonymous said...

Maybe they don't want Rhonda Lokeman drunk crashing their parties and events.

Anonymous said...

Do you honestly consider Rhonda Lokeman (the 3 wheel drunk) a member of any part of society?

John Altevogt said...

The editorial staff spends half its time kissing the backside of the local establishment, who needs a society page?

Anonymous said...

Can you even say "high society' and "Kansas City" in the same sentence?

Anonymous said...

Well, 6:59, how elitist is that?

I think you guys who habitually skulk through the "learned comments" of McClatchy Watch really need a life. John, you're included. Let's heap some more cheap shots on Lokeman -- tired stuff! -- while claiming you're somehow intellectually if not morally superior.

I suspect 6:59 hasn't even visited Kansas City. And if he has, just how high is his "society" for comparison? I wouldn't be surprised if he routinely bashes "elites" with abandon. So now he faults Kansas City for not being elite enough?

You guys increasingly are talking to yourselves -- one dimensional ... boring. You may feel good short-term, but it's like talking in a vacuum. Nobody seems to be listening outside your circle. So what's the point? I guess it gives your comfort.

McClatchy Watch has peaked ... I'm moving on, along with others, I suspect.

(Oh, I guess now I brace for the onslaught of angry rebuttal. Let's see how base it gets.)

Anonymous said...

(Oh, I guess now I brace for the onslaught of angry rebuttal. Let's see how base it gets.)

--------------
I don't see why there would be any angry rebuttal.

You talk, you whine and complain trying to dictate to others what they can say and what they talk about. Then when you don't get your way, you stomp your feet and declare you're leaving.

They're used to that and to tell you the truth, I don't think they care where you go. They clearly know that people are listening because you're still complaining, still trying to dictate the conversation.

One would almost think you were a former editor or something.

Anonymous said...

10:07... "onslaught of angry rebuttal"???

No rebuttal needed, mockery is enough.

Anonymous said...

10:07 Is a Griefer
Bray! Hiss! Whine! Whine!
Stamp feet, stamp feet!
I’m leaving, I’m leaving!
Bray! Hiss! Whine! Whine!
Stamp feet, stamp feet!
I’m leaving, I’m leaving!
Bray! Hiss! Whine! Whine!

***Next tea party July 4th***

Anonymous said...

I'm surprised John hasn't brought up the significant items of culture in Wyandotte County-those cast resin sculptures in the fountain at Chateau Avalon and the Latin names and descriptions of the fish in the tank at Cabelas.