Kansas City Star Stays Losing Staff: Henneberger & Hendricks Out

Tonight we note the end of an era for two journalist veterans as they up their Kansas City dead-tree endeavors and depart the so-called "paper of record" for this cowtown. 

Here's some of the backstory . . . 

BEST & BRIGHTEST TKC READERS have shown us that Melinda Henneberger has been on social media talking about leaving the newspaper and looking for a new laptop & gig. 

For most that's not such a big deal . . .

Sure, she was a Pulitzer Prize winner and represents "top-tier" talent and prestige for the news organization BUT . . . Her op/eds never really moved the dial for most locals and her most popular article in the past year shared silly deets concerning imaginary fear of a dirty cop ghost haunting former sex workers in the Dotte . . . And that's NOT exactly service journalism. 

The more important update for www.TonysKansasCity.com readers . . .  

KANSAS CITY STAR POLITICAL REPORTER MIKE HENDRICKS RETIRES!!!

That's a big deal given he was one of the last purveyors of old school local journalism and hit pieces mostly based on tips from competing KCMO politicos. 

Yes . . .

We had many criticisms of Hendricks over the years . . . But there's no denying his talent and connection to the local political scene.

Objectively, the departure of a veteran newsie with nobody to back up his style of 12th & Oak reporting will mean the Star will lose even more relevance with their fading audience.  

Still . . .

These departures are BIG NEWS for longtime Kansas City dead-tree subscribers but the reality is that most younger people don't bother much with local content and would rather watch quick video clips about celebrities/influencers & assorted scumbags via social media.  

Developing . . .