Summary: A radio station's on-air attempt to attack one of the Kansas City Star's top journalists backfires in a big way. 09-20-2007
ATTACK ON STAR'S SMITH BACKFIRES ON KCMO We were surprised when KCMO-710 talk show host Chris Stigall (see his response below) went after the Kansas City Star's award-winning journalist DeAnn Smith on his morning show for failing to mention the station in a story she did (below) discussing controversial Parks Board member Frances Semler. Stigall was upset that KCMO had put on a major event (he claims 2,000 folks attended however, theater manager Larry Sells put the actual number at 1,400 to 1,500) at the Uptown Theater on Tuesday (9/18) evening. The event featured syndicated radio host Laura Ingraham and Semler, but Stigall said Smith failed to mention the station in her story. He even questioned the legality of Smith and the Star using part of a Semler interview on its Prime Buzz Internet site. To make his point Stigall called KCMO's legal counsel on-air to ask if it would be possible for the station to sue Smith and the Star for taking the material and not giving proper credit. That's when things backfired on Stigall. The attorney admitted on-air that Smith had asked for a copy of the interview, but the station refused to cooperate.The Star had to track down Ingraham's number and wasthen forced to pay a fee to go on Ingraham's Web site to access the interview. To her credit, Smith simply wrote around the fact the radio station had put on the major event. If the station refused to cooperate why should she give it publicity? That's the way it often works in public relations. Smith could give lessons to other reporters at the Star. If a source refuses to cooperate they should not be given positive exposure. It should be noted that the Star's gossip guy Hearne Christopher, who is a regular guest on the KCMO morning show, promised Stigall he would write about the event in a future column and delivered a puff piece (below).
Hearne Christopher Jr. Column 9/25 Talkstock
The big guns were out in force recently for Talk Radio 710 KCMO�s star-studded blowout at the Uptown. Complete with headliners Laura Ingraham, Dave Ramsey, Rusty Humphries and Chris Stigall. A few highlights: �We are now the No. 1 talk show in America that is not corporate-owned,� Ramsey said. His advice to economic naysayers: �If you think the economy�s bad, try and get a parking spot at Wal-Mart. Let me tell you something: It doesn�t make the news unless it�s bad.� Ingraham joked that John Lennon was rolling in his grave over her appropriation of his �Power to the People� lyrics for her new book title. �Is it cold in here or did Hillary walk into the room?� Ingraham joked upon walking on stage in a slinky satin dress. Ingraham�s sum-up of embattled KC Parks Board member Frances Semler: �You can be on a Parks Board and you can start a revolution.� One may disagree with Ingraham�s politics, but there�s little argument that she has the hippest music bed in talk radio. Artists on her current �show music� list range from Elvis Costello, Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Mamas & the Papas to Guster, Ben Harper, Alan Jackson, Frank Sinatra and Green Day.
Chris Stigall of KCMO, Frances Semler and Laura Ingraham (in the worst photo ever taken)
Chris Stigall's responds:
"They don't like our politics, and that's fine. They didn't get our help. Maybe they're hacked, and that's fine. "You cannot leave out a 2,000-seat standing ovation by our audience from that story and be credible. You cannot say Frances Semler appeared on a radio show that thousands listen to in this town, and not report where it's heard. "I don't need her "publicity." I expect a "praised, respected heroine of journalism" would want all the facts reported. Where Laura Ingraham can be heard in this town and that she and our hosts sold out the event is NEWS. Not back-patting. Journalists don't "plug" or "promote" - they report. "That's the problem with this town and its media. "Don't do anything to tick off TV or the almighty Star, or they won't talk about you." Radio stations like KMBZ are the worst about it. Screw that. "I'll do my show, and listeners will plug and promote or not on my behalf..."
DeAnn Smith, Kansas City Star Posted on Wed, Sep. 19, 2007 Semler says on talk show she won�t be intimidated
Frances Semler told a nationally syndicated radio talk show this week that she will not be intimidated by the controversy over her appointment to the Kansas City park board. Semler was a guest Tuesday on conservative talk show host Laura Ingraham�s show. Mayor Mark Funkhouser appointed Semler in June, but in recent weeks the National Council of La Raza and the NAACP threatened to pull their upcoming national conventions from Kansas City if Semler did not step down because of her membership in the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps. To read a transcript of Semler�s interview, go to Prime Buzz on KansasCity.com.
