What’s really wrong with print journalism these days?
Plain and simple, corporate newspapers across the country are whacking their top journalists in an effort to cut costs. The latest to get the axe is award-winning journalist Karen Dillon at the McClatchy-owned Kansas City Star who was cut loose Oct 20.
KC’s most read blogger Tony Botello of tonyskansascity.com has done a superb summary of the situation.
Journalists are the ones who produce the newspaper product that customers want to buy. However, over the past few years these key people are being routinely tossed aside in cost-saving measures by corporate newspapers. That means journalists who know the history behind events and individuals are gone with cheaper paid individuals left to write stories.
It would be like a computer company reducing its IT Department in order to save costs.
Newspapers have increased their prices, reduced their size and the quality of journalism they provide, but still expect customers to buy the product. It is a model that just won’t work going forward.
This site has profiled Dillon in numerous stories over the years because she has captured a series of awards for her stories. She represented what is good about journalism and journalists. (LINK).
Why was Dillon given her walking papers (along with a veteran photojournalist) after more than two decades? Most likely because she was caught up in an ugly situation reported here in January where she was quoted by noted journalist Jim Romensko that told of how she and another reporter were forced to decide who would get let go and who would stay. It was a story that highlighted how cruel layoffs were at the Star.
When that news leaked it infuriated the Star’s publisher and its executive editor so much that Publisher Mi-Ai Parrish was forced to send a note to employees denying the story (LINK). Few believed that explanation.
If you want to know what it is like working as a journalist at a newspaper these days just check out Dillon’s explanation (below) on her Facebook page. Note that that Star has gone from about 100 metro/state reporters to just 18 today.
I want to thank everyone for all the overwhelming support and wonderful comments I’ve received since I was told Monday that my job had been eliminated, including those from you who found my hiding-in-plain-sight page.
I’ve spent the last 48 hours trying to make sense of what has happened. For five years I’ve watched as my colleagues were led to the gallows one by one. We started with about 100 reporters on the metro/state desk. Now there are only about 18 left.
The golden era of government reporting that for decades provided an added protection for our public from bad or corrupt governments has passed _ at least it has in Kansas City.
Nothing could stop this. The role of a debt-leaden corporate newspaper is to paddle quietly in still waters always looking the other way and always protecting the corporation, not its readers.
At odds with this is the government reporter with a crusader’s heart whose will is to dive into rushing, uncharted waters. Armed only with facts, these reporters make waves, facing down bristling government officials, mad-as-hell police chiefs and silver-tongued attorneys.
For many of us, our jobs were unlike any other jobs, and never was it work. Digging through mountains of documents for that needle and finding sources whose revelations could bring down corrupt officials or provide enough embarrassment to right wrongs was our sustenance.
We could never get our fill and lived it 24/7. To steal from H.L. Mencken, “It really (was) the life of kings.”
The past five years, the layoffs exacted a terrible toll on the many who were forced to leave, and for those who remained. I can never get out of my mind one early morning as a mass layoff began, I saw my good friend Mike Rice being led off by an executioner. The look in his eyes…The feeling of helplessness that washed over me…
The world has changed a lot in five years. There are new opportunities. Mike Rice became a paralegal and now works at a top law firm.
My grief will pass. I’ve always been a survivor. I will find work.
But what has been lost to the public will not soon if ever be replaced.
In an item on this site in June we praised the Star’s top journalists. Today only three are still with the newspaper. That is a sad commentary on journalism today.
NOTHING OF VALUE
and Rick Alm and Rich Hood and Steve Winn and isn’t it amazing that we can’t say that about the current editorial staff who continue to provide nothing of value to the paper’s readers.
‘GOOD TO BE KING’
This year was the first year in the last 5 that they didn’t do week long furloughs and Parrish just sent out a memo last week that said in order to stop the furloughs from happening next year, there will be no raises for anyone working at the Star. Then again, the raises they have been giving out the last 5 years was almost like not getting a raise at all.
Despite the money crunch at McClatchy and the Star, Parrish managed to redecorate the 1st floor of the main building with some new furniture and nice big screen tv’s and re-do the publisher’s office as well.
As for McClatchy, when they move Zieman to corporate in California, they spent over $160,000 to move him, help him sell his house here in K.C. and helped him buy a new house in Cali.
As Mel Brooks said, “It’s good to be King”.
FWIW, all of the office furniture in their production facility is from Henry Miller. Nice eh!
FORMER CO-WORKER
Nice story on Karen. She is a star with a great heart. And ethics. Great that someone still notices and regards the fallen. Hope all is well. Miss you.
WILL SURVIVE ‘EXECUTION’
I am flabbergasted by what has happened to Karen Dillon. She is one of the most accomplished and most respected journalists in the United States. It was a privilege to work with her when I was at the Kansas City Star. It deeply saddens me to see her tossed aside after a lifetime of hard work and dedication. But knowing Karen, I expect her to survive this “execution” and thrive in her future endeavors. The grit and gumption that made Karen Dillon a great journalist will see her through.
DARK DAY FOR JOURNALISM
Many of us subscribe to The Kansas City Star because of the work of superb journalists and investigative reporters like Ms. Dillon.
This is indeed a dark day for journalism.
SHRINKING…
one of these days the star paper will be the same size as the Independence examiner.
PAPER IS RAG
When your opinion writers are Lewis, Mary, Yael, etc what do you expect? Fill up your organization with far out there liberals who represent a small majority of Americans and not the moderate majority?
The paper is a rag now. What to include all.
EDITORIAL ADDS VALUE
I am saddened that the Star has had to lay off good people. Newspaper subscriptions fall, costs rise, something’s gotta give. The Star is a business like any other business. Painful decisions have to be made for the sake of survival.
Please don’t see me cheering the laying off of scores of talented, skilled, dedicated people. Just stating the fact of business in these times.
But I don’t agree that the editorial staff adds no value. In recent months, I’ve seen some excellent editorials in the Star. The quality of the editorial cartoons has improved vastly in the past year, too. The editorials and cartoons may not appeal to people of a certain political bent, but middle-of-the-road pleases no one.
SAD DAY FOR READERS
It is indeed a sad day for readers. The temptation is to cancel my subscription but the Star has the advantage of being the only daily “newspaper” in town. Editorials are OK, but they are usually retrospective and don’t really convey news as I think of it. Good (great) reporting adds so much value to my life.
EDITORIALS ARE LAME
The selective topics of the editorials are lame and not in the least bit enlightening, thought provoking or educating. If one thing is consistent about editorials (and the writers of them) is that they protect certain politicians and their agendas at all costs. Hardly the battle cry of “freedom of the press”.
STAR AND TITANIC
The KC Star = The Titanic
Editorial Board = Band Playing as the Ship Sinks.