Award-winning Kansas City Star photojournalist Mike Ransdell will be departing the McClatchy-owned newspaper after 12 years to start his own video production company, sources have told Bottom Line.
His last day will be October 12.
Ransdell will also do high-end wedding films at ”One Tree Studios.”
“Mike has been a big contributor to the photo team and has provided his talents to many projects including some notable achievements of this summer’s drought coverage, a multi-day series on the gangs of Kansas City, the disappearance of baby Lisa, coverage of the Chiefs, Royals and college sports and let’s not forget the 12 cats of Christmas,” noted a memo to Star newsroom staffers.
Ransdell earned the honor of NPPA Region 7 photographer of the year while at the Star and has spent most of his time the past few years shooting video for The Star. He recently won The Kansas Press Association’s Awards of Excellence 2012: First Place for Best Online Video News for his coverage in Joplin.
NOT A HAPPY CAMPER
He sure doesn’t look very happy in that picture! Doubt if he’s replaced down there since The Star indicated that it had no plans to fill its unfilled positions when the layoffs of September 18, The Star’s “birthday”, were announced. At any rate, I sure wish him the best for the future.
LEE JUDGE
Next we’ll be reading that the Star has decided to replace all its photos with Lee Judge cartoons.
DON’T GIVE STAR IDEAS
…don’t give the Star any ideas like this. Next they will have a corporate-wide cartoonist and layoff the few local ones.
AMAZING VIDEO WORK
Anyone who has seen his amazing video work will wonder why he waited so long.