Correspondence with Kansas City Star

[wmr13a]

The other day, I emailed the Kansas City Star about their lopsided coverage of kU basketball compared to Mizzou and their choice to launch a new ku basketball app.

This is the response I received:

I understand your frustration but the interest in KU basketball in our market and beyond far exceeds that of any of our other area schools. The appetite for KU basketball information is voracious, and the opportunity to hire Gary Bedore, the guru of KU hoops, made this a natural.
And this is coming from a Mizzou grad!
Thanks for writing,
Randy Covitz
Readers Representative
Kansas City Star

For those of you who care, I thought you would find this interesting.

 

[Abefor12]

My interpretation of that is:

--this is what we're going to do
--and we're not even going to pretend otherwise

 

[Treadmill]

My interpretation of that is:

--this is what we're going to do
--and we're not even going to pretend otherwise

A big F U to all of us.

 

[Forever A Tiger]

I'm wondering what he said that is incorrect. They are a business who like all businesses is trying to be market-driven. I don't know who would claim there's not much greater interest in beaker basketball than Mizzou or KSU basketball at this point. There doesn't even seem to be all that much interest in Mizzou basketball here on a Mizzou site and much of the interest it does have is negative.

It's probably the same reason why the P-D gives far more coverage to Mizzou than to Illinois.

 

[mizzoucobra]

Newspapers cover what sells the most content.

Natural fit in KC.

 

[tgrrider]

As this election year has shown, journalism as a profession has no interest in being "fair" or " objective". It only matters how much money they can make, like every other business. It has always been this way, except somehow journalist's were able to make it seem like they were simply reporting the news, not pushing an agenda. Now they don't even try to give the impression of being objective. It really is better now, because their agenda is readily apparent and there is no pretense that they aren't pushing a particular view.

 

[Mowe11]

The other day, I emailed the Kansas City Star about their lopsided coverage of kU basketball compared to Mizzou and their choice to launch a new ku basketball app.

This is the response I received:

I understand your frustration but the interest in KU basketball in our market and beyond far exceeds that of any of our other area schools. The appetite for KU basketball information is voracious, and the opportunity to hire Gary Bedore, the guru of KU hoops, made this a natural.
And this is coming from a Mizzou grad!
Thanks for writing,
Randy Covitz
Readers Representative
Kansas City Star

For those of you who care, I thought you would find this interesting.

The base assumption is that mizzou and k state and other U. folks won't get pissed and leave, no way more than 50 percent of subscribers focus on ku hoops in KC. Large last ditch gamble.

I have subscribed for 25 years. It is a rag these days. Thin and full of grocery ads. Probably time to quit it.

 

[tigers68]

Any KU fan that pays for that is dumb. Especially when Rivals and Scout currently do it, and do it better. This will be yet another dumpster fire for the kU Star.

 

[Forever A Tiger]

As this election year has shown, journalism as a profession has no interest in being "fair" or " objective". It only matters how much money they can make, like every other business. It has always been this way, except somehow journalist's were able to make it seem like they were simply reporting the news, not pushing an agenda. Now they don't even try to give the impression of being objective. It really is better now, because their agenda is readily apparent and there is no pretense that they aren't pushing a particular view.

If newspapers fail because they are not making good business decisions in order to be "objective" will you be for the taxpayers bailing them out? The entire newspaper industry is having severe financial issues and it has nothing to do with being objective or not objective.

Btw, printing more stories about one team or anything else doesn't mean they aren't objective in their coverage. Quantity has nothing to do with fairness. I don't read the Star, so I'm not judging if they are or are not objective in their coverage. I'm simply pointing out that providing what their customers want does not mean they are not being objective.

 

[El Kabong62]

I'm wondering what he said that is incorrect. They are a business who like all businesses is trying to be market-driven. I don't know who would claim there's not much greater interest in beaker basketball than Mizzou or KSU basketball at this point. There doesn't even seem to be all that much interest in Mizzou basketball here on a Mizzou site and much of the interest it does have is negative.

It's probably the same reason why the P-D gives far more coverage to Mizzou than to Illinois.

Exactly. Which is one of the reasons I unsubscribed.

 

[tgrrider]

If newspapers fail because they are not making good business decisions in order to be "objective" will you be for the taxpayers bailing them out? The entire newspaper industry is having severe financial issues and it has nothing to do with being objective or not objective.

Btw, printing more stories about one team or anything else doesn't mean they aren't objective in their coverage. Quantity has nothing to do with fairness. I don't read the Star, so I'm not judging if they are or are not objective in their coverage. I'm simply pointing out that providing what their customers want whydoes not mean they are not being objective.

why should anyone bail them out? if they cant make it they should go out of business. The star is selling an app promoting one of the schools in the area. Do you really think they can be objective about ku news when their profitability is tied to people buying newspapers and looking at adds on their app? They have for years curtailed/squashed bad ku news for this reason, which is fine. But don't try to say they are objective about ku.

 

[vusani]

My interpretation of that is:

--this is what we're going to do
--and we're not even going to pretend otherwise

They have subscriptions to sell. Welcome to business.

 

[jeffreydennis]

My interpretation of that is:

--this is what we're going to do
--and we're not even going to pretend otherwise

WDWWD

 

[89tigger]

Newspapers cover what sells the most content.

Natural fit in KC.

What? What??

 

[mizsec_byeku]

 

[Forever A Tiger]

why should anyone bail them out? if they cant make it they should go out of business. The star is selling an app promoting one of the schools in the area. Do you really think they can be objective about ku news when their profitability is tied to people buying newspapers and looking at adds on their app? They have for years curtailed/squashed bad ku news for this reason, which is fine. But don't try to say they are objective about ku.

I didn't say they should get a bailout, I wouldn't support that at all. Did you read the post to which I responded? That poster complained that they are more concerned about how much money they make than being fair and objective. I accurately pointed out that like any other for-profit business, they had better be concerned about how much money they make or they won't be in business long. To complain that they are catering to the fans of our long-time rival because a significantly higher percentage of their customers are fans of that team is viewing the situation through black and gold glasses. It's ironic that the complaint was about objectivity!

 

[LakeTiger]

Newspapers cover what sells the most content.

Natural fit in KC.

Exactly

ku is the basketball franchise in KC. Why would they cover a shitty program like Mizzou?

 

[bmcallister]

I ended my subscription to the Fallin' Star a long time ago. Their response is what I knew then.

 

[mufootball1]

The better question to ask the ku star is why they eagerly cover campus unrest at Mizzou, but ignore it at ku.

Why was the false accusation of a racial slur at Mizzou covered immediately, whereas racial unrest at ku is covered by the national media, yet ignored locally.

These aren't sports issues....they are issues related to journalistic integrity, of which the ku star is completely void of.

 

[brosept]

KU basketball went 33-5 last year and finished #3 in the nation. They are the preseason AP #1 team in the country. They win league titles for breakfast.

When the Royals, Chiefs, Mizzou hoops, or Mizzou football operations do that for a few decades they might get an app too.

 

[hmd77]

A big F U to all of us.

I'm not sure why this is a surprise to some people. Leaving the B12 + cratering to historic lows in the sport = diminished stature in KC. And we were always second fiddle to kU in Kansas City anyway.

String together some good seasons and schedule some games at Sprint, and maybe we can match our former presence there (which was probably a 40/60 split w/ kU historically). Until then, I'm not sure why the Star would spend time, effort and money on extra coverage of one of the worst teams in major college basketball--a team who can't even draw enough fans to its home arena to fill it halfway, much less get Kansas City engaged.

 

[MagicMarkus]

If enough Mizzou fans are offended and cancel their subscription they will write more about Mizzou. The problem is that our football and basketball teams have to be successful in this moment for that to happen. We are not very compelling right now....

 

[wolfpack3]

KU basketball went 33-5 last year and finished #3 in the nation. They are the preseason AP #1 team in the country. They win league titles for breakfast.

When the Royals, Chiefs, Mizzou hoops, or Mizzou football operations do that for a few decades they might get an app too.

Yeah, the Royals only went to the World Series the last two consecutive years, winning one. I'm not sure they fit on your list with the others.

Edit: They cover the Royals like crazy, just saying they don't fit in that list. At least lately, which is all that matters in sports.

 

[wolfpack3]

And Randy can eat a dick. I don't care how true it is, a true son never bends over like that for the beakers.

 

[brosept]

Yeah, the Royals only went to the World Series the last two consecutive years, winning one. I'm not sure they fit on your list with the others.

Edit: They cover the Royals like crazy, just saying they don't fit in that list. At least lately, which is all that matters in sports.

The Royals certainly did have two good years. The Royals were also mostly an embarrassment playing in front of half empty stadiums for the 30 previous years, and the first 3/4 of 2014. I'm sure the Star had lots of special pull out sections, commerative cover pages, etc for the Royals the last 3 seasons as well. And the Royals are back to being on the outside looking in for the postseason again this year.

The Chiefs are the one that surprises me. KC is a rabid football town, the Chiefs in general win, and the NFL draft is as close to following recruiting as it gets in pro sports. Seems like these are a good combination for an app.

 

[GabeD]

The Royals certainly did have two good years. The Royals were also mostly an embarrassment playing in front of half empty stadiums for the 30 previous years, and the first 3/4 of 2014. I'm sure the Star had lots of special pull out sections, commerative cover pages, etc for the Royals the last 3 seasons as well. And the Royals are back to being on the outside looking in for the postseason again this year.

The Chiefs are the one that surprises me. KC is a rabid football town, the Chiefs in general win, and the NFL draft is as close to following recruiting as it gets in pro sports. Seems like these are a good combination for an app.

The star has both a Chiefs and a Royals app.

 

[brosept]

The star has both a Chiefs and a Royals app.

Then what is the complaint?

 

[ChuckRE]

Had a boss once that said, do whatever you're big enough to do. Apparently they are big enough to live and die with ku and can do whatever they want to do. So can I. The only coverage they give Mizzou is mostly negative anyway. They don't need my money and I don't need to read about ku.... so without each other we all can be happy.

 

[Conurock]

As this election year has shown, journalism as a profession has no interest in being "fair" or " objective". It only matters how much money they can make, like every other business. It has always been this way, except somehow journalist's were able to make it seem like they were simply reporting the news, not pushing an agenda. Now they don't even try to give the impression of being objective. It really is better now, because their agenda is readily apparent and there is no pretense that they aren't pushing a particular view.

Many local/metro publications are now part of corporate entities like the MSM outlets. Ultimately journalists and editors have BOD's and major stock holders/VC's to answer to quarterly. It's called a green bias. Increasing subscriptions, eyeballs and clicks allow people to keep jobs, even if it sacrifices some objectivity.

 

[Mizzou415]

If enough Mizzou fans indicate they would pay for a Mizzou app, I'm positive they would be more than happy to create one for you.

 

[Mokane]

I'm not sure why this is a surprise to some people. Leaving the B12 + cratering to historic lows in the sport = diminished stature in KC. And we were always second fiddle to kU in Kansas City anyway.

String together some good seasons and schedule some games at Sprint, and maybe we can match our former presence there (which was probably a 40/60 split w/ kU historically). Until then, I'm not sure why the Star would spend time, effort and money on extra coverage of one of the worst teams in major college basketball--a team who can't even draw enough fans to its home arena to fill it halfway, much less get Kansas City engaged.

Good point.

But until then, I'm not sure why a Mizzou fan would patronize the KC Star, either.

 

[GabeD]

Good point.

But until then, I'm not sure why a Mizzou fan would patronize the KC Star, either.

Probably because they like things in the paper beyond just the Mizzou coverage

 

[GabeD]

Then what is the complaint?

That kansas basketball is really good and there are kansas fans in KC, I think.

If enough Mizzou fans indicate they would pay for a Mizzou app, I'm positive they would be more than happy to create one for you.

Without question. Although it's probably more about advertisers. IDK about the jaybird app, but the Chiefs and Royals ones are free. I have both.

 

[mizzou1985]

Why are KC people so whiny all the time?

 

[Conurock]

Why are KC people so whiny all the time?

St. Louis will definitely get blamed for the KU app on the KC star somehow by the lunatic fringe.

 

[SmithBro]

The other day, I emailed the Kansas City Star about their lopsided coverage of kU basketball compared to Mizzou and their choice to launch a new ku basketball app.

This is the response I received:

I understand your frustration but the interest in KU basketball in our market and beyond far exceeds that of any of our other area schools. The appetite for KU basketball information is voracious, and the opportunity to hire Gary Bedore, the guru of KU hoops, made this a natural.
And this is coming from a Mizzou grad!
Thanks for writing,
Randy Covitz
Readers Representative
Kansas City Star

For those of you who care, I thought you would find this interesting.

I read this as the Star saying they're trying to serve their market by providing what the readers want. I, for one, am disgusted.

 

[DaHouse77]

As this election year has shown, journalism as a profession has no interest in being "fair" or " objective". It only matters how much money they can make, like every other business. It has always been this way, except somehow journalist's were able to make it seem like they were simply reporting the news, not pushing an agenda. Now they don't even try to give the impression of being objective. It really is better now, because their agenda is readily apparent and there is no pretense that they aren't pushing a particular view.

I think that's what journalism has become. It's not what it's always been. But yes, today, due to declining ad dollars in print journalism and due to media outlets being gobbled up by business conglomerates... dollars have become what's most important.

Back in the day, newspapers were a highly important marketing medium for businesses. Newspapers were very, very profitable... because businesses needed them. Because they were always assuredly going to be profitable, the newsroom has much more flexibility about what to cover -- and they had tons more resources.

Well, the Internet changed everything, and unfortunately, newspapers weren't smart enough to adapt immediately. They offered their content for free, and as a result, users got used to getting their information for free. Now, they demand it. Then you have the additional stress brought on by the fact that anyone can call himself/herself a journalist online... you just have to know how to create a website and generate clicks.

It's been nothing but bad beats for the news industry of late. It's terrible for our society, because newspapers (especially) have to pander to survive. I get it. And I don't blame them. Unfortunately, it's only going to get harder for them. I fear one day we won't have any modicum of impartiality in the news world and we'll all be force fed press releases and hot takes from social media.

 

[GovernorPinkel]

I think that's what journalism has become. It's not what it's always been. But yes, today, due to declining ad dollars in print journalism and due to media outlets being gobbled up by business conglomerates... dollars have become what's most important.

Back in the day, newspapers were a highly important marketing medium for businesses. Newspapers were very, very profitable... because businesses needed them. Because they were always assuredly going to be profitable, the newsroom has much more flexibility about what to cover -- and they had tons more resources.

Well, the Internet changed everything, and unfortunately, newspapers weren't smart enough to adapt immediately. They offered their content for free, and as a result, users got used to getting their information for free. Now, they demand it. Then you have the additional stress brought on by the fact that anyone can call himself/herself a journalist online... you just have to know how to create a website and generate clicks.

It's been nothing but bad beats for the news industry of late. It's terrible for our society, because newspapers (especially) have to pander to survive. I get it. And I don't blame them. Unfortunately, it's only going to get harder for them. I fear one day we won't have any modicum of impartiality in the news world and we'll all be force fed press releases and hot takes from social media.

I think we're pretty much there already, unfortunately.

 

[DaHouse77]

I think we're pretty much there already, unfortunately.

Not quite... but we're probably 10 years from the bottom. Not sure how ugly it will look. Certainly, there will be no more print additions. It's sad.

 

[Mokane]

Probably because they like things in the paper beyond just the Mizzou coverage

What Mizzou coverage?