08-16-2011 JOHNSON COUNTY SUN NEWSPAPER SHUTS DOWN A proud era of community newspapering has come to an end as the Johnson County Sun newspaper has closed its doors after more than 60 years, sources have told Bottom Line. The publication is owned by the News-Press & Gazette Company and its NPG Newspapers Inc, group based in St. Joseph, MO. The Kansas City Star updated this story and says 20 employees were laid off. Reportedly, the only other publication currently under the Sun Publication banner, the Nursing News, will continue to operate. The final edition will be produced this week. A reliable source told Bottom Line that staffers were informed of the decision to close this morning in a meeting. The newspaper was started by Stan and Shirley Rose as "The Prairie Scout" community newspaper in 1950 from their living room in Prairie Village. It later evolved into the Johnson County Sun and celebrated its 60th anniversary in October 2010. The Rose's son, Steve, sold the paper in 1998, but continued to write a weekly column for the paper for 40 years until November 2010. He now writes a column for the Kansas City Star. As recently as last year the newspaper tried to get paid additional paid subscribers for its print edition and many customers transitioned to its on-line edition. Sources say just few years ago the circulation at the Sun was over 100,000. However, recently its print edition circulation was down to 37,000, according to a reliable source. It is a sad day for community journalism and the superb journalists who provided it for so many decades.
08-17-2011 FORMER EMPLOYEE SPEAKS "As a former NPG employee, this doesn't surprise me in the least. It is a poor, mismanaged company that doesn't care about any of its employees outside of the St. Joseph office. In the numerous years I worked there, I saw the owner come to our office once. "Not long ago, they moved a new publisher into the role at The Sun, who obviously ran down the papers, like she's done so many times in the past. Not only did she almost get fired at The Star’s publications in Harrisonville (only to be save by her good “friend” David Bradley), she runs a terrible newsroom and ran out numerous quality employees (simply because she didn't like them) when she was named publisher in Paola and at The Sun. I hate to see The Sun go, but her failure speaks volumes."
OVERMANAGEMENT "Yet again, we are witnessing the downfall of another newspaper due to overmanagement. The Sun had a huge presence in JOCO for many years, but was sold and swallowed up by corporate America. This continues to happen with the excuse that print media is a dinosaur, when in fact is still a viable form of media when managed correctly. "I have confidence that a weekly publication in JOCO can survive and be profitable if not for the negativity of newspapers, and reservations of the public that believe this. Ask other media around town what area has the biggest ad dollar potential..."
Steve Rose
08-16-2011 ROSE: 'LIKE DEATH IN FAMILY' When a newspaper that has been part of your family for more than 60 years closes its doors it is truly sad news. And that is how Steve Rose feels about the closure of the newspaper started by his parents as it fades away after this week's final issue. Rose's popular front-page column ran for 40 years in the paper. "The closing of The Sun is like a death in the family, not only for me and my family, but for the entire Johnson County community," Rose told Bottom Line. "It is almost incomprehensible that a community like Johnson County will not have its own independent newspaper, acting as a voice for the community. It is a real loss."
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