Bottom Line Communications

• Those who thought that the Kansas City Star was not a “real” business received quite a wake-up this year.  The area’s leading newspaper continued to whack talented journalists while also raising prices for the Thanksgiving edition and even taking advantage of carriers by charging them hefty fees for missed deliveries and the like. The line between advertising and editorial is becoming more razor thin each day...
• How can you NOT like KCTV's Dana Wright when she responds to former colleague Rhiannon Ally regarding a photo Ally posted of the new airport scanners:"Can you make my butt look smaller please?"
• To some people the departure of the Star’s Dan Margolies to greener pastures with Reuters in Washington, D.C. might not have seemed very big news.  But he was a superb reporter and his leaving left a huge void at the paper that may never be filled.
• Radio icon Walt Bodine continued to host his morning show at 11 a.m. on KCUR despite turning 89 in August. Yes, Walt is in pretty sad shape these days, but sometimes it is worth tuning in to listen to the gentle compassion exhibited by his co-host Gina Kauffman helping him out.
• Tony Botello of Tonyskansascity.com might have become even more irreverent this year and still remains the area’s leading blogger. He may make you cringe with some of his views on the KC community, but he is one of the area’s most talented writers.  (Don’t tell anyone, but he is a pretty neat person.)
• If I were the Radio/TV writer at the KC Star and the main front page story in the newspaper deals with a fight between Fox and Time Warner over fees and is written (12/29) by a New York Times guy I would be embarrassed.
• The future of print journalism?  Dave Helling at the Kansas City Star.  He can write stories, shoot video, interview folks and then go on TV and radio shows to discuss it all.  Rumors that he also handles janitorial duties at the Star are untrue...we think.
• One New Year's Resolution we have made is not to mention former Star gossip columnist Hearne Christopher or his blog.  It is a policy that the Pitch followed religiously until the alternative weekly couldn't ignore his DUI and mug shot. 
• While we will not give Hearne any exposure, that doesn't mean that we will not laugh out loud when he prints statistics about how many people visit his blog. Embellishment is fine. Absolute and total BS is another thing. It was a tactic he tried at the Star where he claimed to be one of the most-read writers there.  Not true.
• Speaking of neat people, one of my favorites is Darla Jaye, who has a show some evenings on KMBZ-980 when it isn't pre-empted by some stupid sports talk program.  Alan Scherstuhl of Pitch Weekly wrote a cover story about Jaye that captured her personality perfectly. 
• KCSP’s upstart talent Nick Wright’s tactic of trying to go after WHB veteran sports talker Soren Petro (and fellow Syracuse alum) didn’t work.  Petro ignored him, which was the perfect response.
• His name is Lasaro Abalos and he is a news photojournalist at KMBC.  His Web site heycameraman.net is one of the most interesting examinations of technology that you will come across.  
• Tess Koppelman at WDAF is one of the most underrated talents in the news media. She does some excellent work, particularly her piece that dealt with the changes in education.
• My friend, Elliot, at the broadcastkc.com site truly loves all things radio and does a wonderful job of covering it. Check it out. 
• Kudos to veteran PR guy Pat Paton for putting together the KC Media Legends get-togethers each month. There is so much talent there it can be overwhelming. 
• One of the area’s most talented sportswriters, Greg Hall, is doing a superb job Christopher’s blog.  Hall generates 10 times the response of all the other writers on the site while Hearne still uses his same six sources and hopes that Craig Glazer will provide a response.
• The StateoftheLine site features some of the best writers in the area. McKay Stangler and Dan Lybarger are absolutely top-notch.
• Kudos to Christopher for pre-announcing his DUI before other media outlets after a night of partying at Jardine’s. It was a wise tactic although inquiring minds still want to know his blood alcohol level.
• At some point this year it seemed as if someone at the Star finally said, "Guys, our coverage of KCMO Mayor Mark Funkhouser is so biased that we are looking like idiots to our readers. Let's dial it down a notch."
• Dennis Rooney, producer at KCTE-1510, is one of the funniest guys I have ever met. Take the time to hear him do the news sometime.
• Meteorologist Bryan Busby at KMBC moved up in my estimation this year after learning that Cleveland weatherman Dick Goddard got him into the weather business. Goddard is a TV icon.
• Does anyone handle newspaper/radio duties better than the Star's political writer Steve Kraske?  His KCUR morning show (11 a.m.) really highlights his eclectic interests, and he handles the show effortlessly.
• It was sad to report that Bill Grigsby was retiring from KC Chiefs broadcasts, but it was time for the 86-year-old to bid adieu. Someone as positive as him could not last in sports journalism today.
• Sun Publications' publisher Steve Rose is an interesting guy. Unfortunately he seemed to start believing what he was writing and actually thought he could get elected to Congress.
• Finally had a chance to meet KCPT’s Nick Haines in 2009 and participate in a media panel he helped organize.  I used to think: "Is he that smart or is it his accent?"  He’s that smart…
• SportsRadioKC.com went live in 2009 and could very well represent the future of radio.  There are a lot of talented people behind it and it is off to a great start.
• KSHB-TV41's Jack Harry is still the best sports guy on TV. No debate.
• Still can't believe that Rebecca Shelton, one of the top writers/editors ever in KC, agreed to write a guest column for this site this year.
• KMBC’s Kris Ketz cemented his reputation as one of the nicest guys in the media in Kansas City and also one of the most knowledgeable. The 26-year veteran never rests…
• Journalism took a major hit with the cutbacks at KCTV 5, particularly in its investigative unit. Ash-Har Quraishi produced some award-winning stories that needed to be told. In 2009 the station seemed to have raised the white flag of surrender to KMBC.  
• KSHB-TV41 has some of the most talented journalists in the city. It is simply amazing that the NBC affiliate does not do better in the ratings. Russ Ptacek is like a pit bull (trust me).
• Keep Donna Weatherford, wife of former Star copy editor Les Weatherford, in your prayers.  Those two lovebirds had a rough 2009.
• Can you believe that Cynthia Smith paired up with Phil Witt this year to celebrate the anniversary of WDAF-TV and the two pulled off anchoring duties without a hitch? Two pros.
• Sometimes there are folks who just do a damn good job and receive little recognition. That’s the case with Bob Sigman, opinion page editor at the Sun. He's been a pro for years.
• KCMO’s Chris Stigall celebrated his fourth on-air anniversary in 2009.  Agree or disagree with him, you have to admit he will get you thinking and is one helluva hard worker.
• Publisher Steve Fisch produced his 50th edition of KC Sports & Fitness magazine since he took over the publication. If you have ever been involved with publishing you will realize what an accomplishment that was.
• “435 South” magazine and its publisher Kathy Boos were terrific even before the December edition.  Incidentally, the magazine was so thick this month that to mail it to your mother in Florida costs $7.50. Trust me on that. It was worth it...
•  Although the Pitch made Charles Ferruzza a part-timer which was a bad move, the publication still did some fine work this year. Justin Kendall does quality work (calling the Star's Jason Whitlock the "butterball of bitterness" is classic) and Nadia Pflaum also does excellent stuff when she doesn’t let her personal views get in the way of things like the Power & Light District.
• Some TV folks seem nice on the air, but are jerks when the camera is off.  That’s not the case with WDAF’s John Holt and Dana Wright at KCTV5.   They are both good people.
• Kelly Scanlon has turned her KC Small Business publication into part of a massive conglomerate.  Talk about growing a business!!
• With all the cutbacks at the Star it has placed a heavy burden on the remaining staffers.  Word is that reporter Joyce Smith, who was working 14 hours a day before the layoffs, is now up to 18. 
• Want to see the future of journalism?  Go to kcfreepress.com.  Enough said.
• It was good to hear that ex-radio star Jerry Fogel is recovering from the big “C.”  Here’s wishing him better health in 2010 and (hopefully) an on-air job again. He is missed.
• Derek Donovan does a superb job as the Readers’ Representative at the Star. That is not an easy task these days.
• Visiting  Gatewaycityradio.com often makes you feel dirty.  That’s why most on-air talent avoid the site like the plague. Incidentally, any post using my name or this site is bogus. 
• Nick Sloan, 24, is the owner, writer, photographer and ad salesman now for the Kansas City Kansan.  Amazingly, he is doing a remarkable job.
• I still think the pairing of Mike Shanin and Scott Parks on their afternoon radio talk show on KMBZ-980 is odd, but they have flourished together for four years now.  What the heck do I know?
• Ever meet someone you recognize, but can't really tell if they know you or not?  Experienced that this year with Kevin Kietzman and Danny Clinkscale at WHB-810.
• Think how many high school athletes have been covered by Mark Dewar during his career at Sun Publications. When you consider that his stories might be the only coverage the athletes ever receive, they are lucky to have someone as talented as him writing about them.
• The local sports media misses Rhonda Moss.  Can you imagine the types of questions she would be firing at the Chiefs if KCSP hadn't dumped her?
• In June, Frank Boal announced his departure from WDAF after nearly 29 years. The good news is the long-time sports director at the Fox station is still in the media. 

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  Special thanks to all my loyal tipsters. Readers of this site might be amazed that much of the information provided comes from the leading media people in Kansas City.  I respect all requests for individuals who wish to provide off-the-record information.  Peace to all!!----John Landsberg

12-25-2009
CHANGE OF HEART
    "In your comments about various people in town, you no doubt were too humble to mention yourself.  I for one think we barely escaped bad luck but you changed heart and kept  your media site.  Thanks.  Good job."  ---Greg