Casual news readers often wonder what motivates nearly constant newspaper opposition to the Prez . . . There are a lot of reasons for the hostility and some of them now include the profit motive.
Accordingly, as the Kansas City Star continues to shrink, the Prez Trump trade war offers increasing hardship . . .
Here's money line perspective from a recent report:
"Critics of the paper tariffs say the businesses that will ultimately be harmed are not Canadian paper producers, but U.S. newspapers that will have to cut staff and reduce publication days to afford higher prices of newsprint — the sheets newspapers are printed on. The newspaper industry employs just over 150,000 Americans, which is about 276,000, or 65 percent, fewer than two decades ago."
Even better . . .
A FEW KICK-ASS TKC TIPSTERS SENT WORD OUR WAY REGARDING THE LOCAL ANGLE ON THIS NEWSPRINT CRISIS AND HOW IT'S KILLING THE KANSAS CITY STAR!!!
A composite quote from readers of our blog community:
"In fairness, the tariffs are going to adversely impact all print products . . . But, the hike in the price of dead trees will be a big expense that The Star can't really afford . . . There's this myth that it won't impact big papers, that's not true here where we're getting gouged on every expense report and more layoffs are already underway . . . They're publishing so few pages as it is, any less and we're down to a one sheet."
Check the links for confirmation:
Bloomberg: Newspapers' Bad News in U.S. Gets Worse, Courtesy of Trade Spat
The Hill: Tariffs on imports of Canadian newsprint strike another blow to America’s struggling newspapers
Roll Call: Lawmakers Across the Aisle Fight Canadian Newsprint Tariffs
NBC News: U.S. publishers worry about pricier newsprint with new tariffs
Developing . . .
Wow, the President really is making America great again.
ReplyDeleteThere's one hint of truth here. The biggest cost for newspapers isn't newsprint but staff and what you can see here is that Star's employees frustration from how the management continues to lie to them and pick them off one at a time. It's not fair, it's just business. Not all of them can get a safe landing spot like Hoopz.
DeleteGood riddance?
DeleteIt's not Trump that's killing the newspaper, it's mobile phones. How often do you see anyone looking at a newspaper? But look around and people are always checking their phones. What's worse is that they're not looking at news, they're taking to their friends are getting updates on stuff they've subscribed to for free. The public is consuming more content but it's not related to KC or local life. It's mostly just gossip.
ReplyDeleteBut without the newspaper, you'd have a mayor who worked only for his patrons and donors doing their bidding while just showing the public his flashy and nice side.
ReplyDeleteOh, wait.
I would be happy to see the Star go away.
ReplyDeleteIn other news, the automobile is hurting the horse and carriage industry
ReplyDelete^^^^ Nice one.
DeleteAs far as rising newsprint goes. They can make up the difference by offering better coupons. Which is the only reason why anyone reads the paper.
Who buys a newspaper anymore? the only thing good about a actual printed news paper is that its proof someone printed the stupid shit they did!! I get coffee on my way to work everyday at QT, and I am there about the same time the newspaper boy - (now a guy in his 90's) shows up, it used to be they stacked a rack full of papers, now they only leave like 5! (looks more like a fake news donation) I give props to them ( the KCStar) "that has crashed and burned" not giving up when they know the digital world has run them out, and that information is free!! I wont hate on the Star for putting 5 lame newspapers in a QT, I just hope they will still be doing that this winter when QT puts out their firewood, newspapers usually are full of bullshit, but they can start a good fire!!!
ReplyDeleteCan’t they see the correlation of newspapers going down and all the Sears and toys r us stores closing?
DeleteIt’s a new age and shopping on line is the new norm
Same with how people get the news
Save the trees. Treehuggers must love Trump now.
ReplyDeleteFacebook and twitter is my main source of news.
ReplyDeleteNo more star? That would be AWESOME!
ReplyDeleteTKC is my only source of news and I don't read the articles, just the comments.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of killing the Star, has Hoopz surfaced at the Boston Globe? I have seen nothing of her there?
ReplyDeleteTrump hurts newspapers......and the downside ?
ReplyDeleteWhat's pathetic is how the elected officials still think that the newspaper counts and influences voters. Not the case, Governor Brownback was derided by every newspaper in the nation and the current paper had a vendetta against him. But he still won by a healthy margin. That's how effective they are.
ReplyDeleteOkay, but you still can't line your cat litter box with a phone. I've tried it and makes facebook slightly worse.
ReplyDeleteThe internet and extreme liberal bias is what’s killing the Star.
ReplyDeleteExactly!!!!
DeleteThat's like saying a life long smoker who uses an oxygen tank to breathe is dying because the price of oxygen is going up.
ReplyDeleteMore tariffs. Less journalism wannabes like Bill Turque and Steve Voderock. Those two fools just regurgitate what the city manager feeds them bc their publisher is in the corruption circle jerk with Sly, JE Dunn, the city manager and both shallow council members named Scott. The Fourth Estate is DEAD.
ReplyDeleteTariffs are a convenient excuse for a business that's dying from its own ineptness. They know half of their potential customer base is made up of Republicans but for years they've essentially held up a big sign saying "We hate Republicans".
ReplyDeleteThe Star has bigger problems then news print. Now There are over sixty million Americans That receive There news via Alternative Media .THEY KNOW SOME MAIN STREAM MEDIA IS GOING off the Deep end. Have you seen a time when A Media Spews Hate every Day About an American President. His Family And Talking about Fake news One Media outlet Led people to believe that Donald Trump was beating His Wife Because they didn't see her for two weeks .And The STAR AND MOST NEWSPAPERS IN THE U.S. ENDORSED Hillary Clinton For President when she has over forty years of corruption. Where is the Main Street Media. They still cover Clinton when most of America wish she would go away .
ReplyDeleteAnd I will tell you About Obamas,Corruption at a later date .
ReplyDeleteA small kid at a local store pointed to a high stack of newspapers on a late Sunday night.
ReplyDeleteHe asked his dad why they sell “bird paper” at the convenience store.
His dad replied he had no idea... as they get it from their elderly neighbors’ driveway when they sleep in late.
"You can never get all the facts from just one newspaper, and unless you have all the facts, you cannot make proper judgements about what is going on." Harry S Truman
ReplyDeleteCity hall is losing its propaganda machine. Best news I have heard all day and it was not in the Star.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteThe star committed suicide long ago.
No newspapers have ruined the legitimacy of journalism. Now all you need is a phone and a desk in your bedroom and you've become a well respected journalist. It sucks because people actually believe Alex Jones, and others like him. Every dumb mother fucker with a voice can have one, including me... Welcome to the age where Trump can become president.
ReplyDelete