Falling Star
Wednesday, November 12th, 2008
When its glorious new press pavillion was complete with aqua-colored glass nearly overhanging Interstate 70, it appeared as though The Kansas City Star had finally achieved invincibility. Already the city’s most prominent news publication, it finally had the digs to flaunt its status. But on Monday the staff weathered a third round of layoffs not unlike the recent cutbacks at other metropolitan dailies, including The Los Angeles Times.
The Star has been struck by the down economy and the accompanying decline in advertising sales. This time a close friend of mine lost his job. His dismissal is evidence that the cuts are reaching far deeper into the newsroom than anyone anticipated and that talented people are being let go. I think I speak for most local journalists in wishing the more than 200 individuals who have been impacted the best of luck in finding positions that keep them in the journalism profession or at least their passion alive for telling stories.
