UPDATE (03-15-2009): The story below was picked up by the "McClatchy Watch" blog site that examines goings-on at McClatchy-owned newspapers. Comments on it have been very interesting: http://cancelthebee.blogspot.com/2009/03/newsroom-armegeddon-at-kansas-city-star.html If you would like to see how former Kansas City Star gossip columnist Hearne Christopher borrowed information from this site check out http://www.kcconfidential.com/. 03-14-2009 BLOODY MONDAY AT KANSAS CITY STAR As if things have not been ugly enough at Kansas City's leading newspaper in the past, the word now is that on Monday (and possibly Tuesday) the latest newsroom layoffs at the Kansas City Star will be greater than the three previous news layoffs---combined. The word is there have been very heated arguments in the newsroom involving Managing Editor Steve Shirk over who which journalists will be let go and which ones will be retained. One source close to the situation reports about 67 people will be affected in the newsroom, which will impact the news product even more dramatically than previous cutbacks. There is even talk of the local and business sections being eliminated and incorporated into the "A" section. In addition, a number of people will have their hours cut to 32, including some columnists. Two columnists already mentioned with reduced hours (and pay) include Mike Hendricks and Steve Penn. "I don't think that the term 'newsroom armegeddon' is too strong of a term," said a source close to the situation. The source pointed out that the Star charging customers 25 cents for its TV guide (link) and fining carriers $5 for missed deliveries are just two indications of how grim things really are on Grand Blvd. "...those things are bad, but having no staff to put together a paper is even worse. The reporters working there will need months of therapy when all of this is over."
NOTE: SEND NAMES OF NEWSROOM EMPLOYEES BEING LET GO TO [email protected]. ALL INFORMATION IS STRICTLY OFF-THE-RECORD.
FEEDACK FROM A FORMER KC STAR REPORTER (03-14-2009):
"This situation could perhaps be easier for staff to stomach if The Star had a publisher who cared about them. (Mark) Zieman simply wants to impress the McClatchy company as much as possible and to do that requires making as many cuts as possible, sending insincere cookie-cutter memos and being as mean as can be to the staff. "The bosses most loyal to Zieman have followed the same philosophy on how to treat staff- i.e. calling them the night before to come in and meet with them, thus assuring them of getting no sleep. "Let's also remember that Zieman (based on what I have heard) had the audacity to crack jokes to staff during a meeting a few weeks ago about the pending staff cuts...If this is true, Mark Zieman is truly one insensitive, ungrateful and insincere asshole. "I truly wish someone in this community had the money to buy The Star from McClatchy and fire his sorry ass. And I hope he is reading this.
PS: Oh yeah, I also heard that Zieman told staff not to read any blogs that talk about The Star. Never has LOL been a better fit.
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