Congratulations go out to The Star today on two fronts:
::: Coverage of the 10th anniversary of 9/11 was outstanding. Especially riveting was Hector Casanova’s breathtaking illustration of the New York skyline. At the top of the illustration, the Manhattan skyscrapers loomed in red, white and brown tints, with huge cranes working at the site of the World Trade Center’s twin towers.
In the foreground, the shadows of the buildings were reflected in dark tones on the waters of New York Harbor — with one exception: Ghostly, white reflections of the twin towers projected eerily down through the body of the illustration.
A New York native, Casanova was the perfect person to do the illustration…I predict we’re going to hear more about this illustration: It’s almost certain to be a prize winner, and, to me, it deserves to win some big prizes.
Inside the A section, The Star devoted five pages of mostly locally produced coverage. One of the highlights was a “double-truck,” two-page spread, featuring 11 people from our area with direct or indirect connections to 9/11. The head-to-toe photos of those people, against white backdrops, were expressive and eye-catching.
::: In a very smart move, The Star put Sam Mellinger’s column about Sunday’s Chiefs’ game on the front page, above the fold.
Some of you may recall that a couple of weeks ago, in a piece about the paper’s reshuffling of its columnists, I suggested that The Star give Mellinger a Sunday-front column every week.
Giving him a Monday front-page (or day-after-Chiefs-game) column might be an even better idea. As I said in the earlier post, newspaper box sales have long jumped by the thousands on Mondays after Chiefs games. It’s important that those day-after stories or columns be above the fold so that prospective buyers looking through box window can see the Chiefs story.
In one above-the-fold sentence, Mellinger characterized the 41-7 defeat at the hands of the Buffalo Bills an “epic failure.” That’s terrible for the Chiefs but almost irresistible bait for prospective newspaper buyers.
I hope The Star continues to do this throughout the season.
And speaking of the Chiefs….
Even looking years down the road, I am dubious about the team’s prospects under the combined leadership of owner Clark Hunt and general manager Scott Pioli. (Don’t even want to talk about coach Todd Haley, who strikes me as the weirdest coach we’ve ever had).
Hunt and Pioli are nepotistic (had to look that one up) flag bearers — Hunt from his father Lamar Hunt and Pioli from his very successful father-in-law Bill Parcells — and neither seems to be an inspiring leader or have much personality.
Tell your friends that on Monday, Sept. 12, 2011, JimmyC said: The Chiefs need new ownership.
Probably isn’t going to happen, though, so be prepared for continued bad football…indefinitely.
JimmyCsays: At the juncture of journalism and daily life in KC 
Good points, all. Also thought the section on the Kauffman Center was exceedingly well done.
Kate
And the obits were outstanding! Oh, sorry I forgot–the readers wrote those…and paid by the word to put them in. (They do get about 9 lines free…)
Unfortunately, Fitz, Sunday was the exception rather than the rule with The Star. It was a GREAT Sunday paper. Can’t remember the last time I said that.
Certainly the potential is there, but I don’t know if the burning desire and passion for excellence are. At least the Star has that in common with our Chiefs, Royals, School District, Municipal Government, Police Department, Fire Department, etc…….
Watch out, Smartman, you’re liable to hear from Louie Wright. I don’t want to be taking up any collections for your legal defense.
The Chiefs are the Chiefs. The Royals are the Royals and ne’er will the twain
meet. Or will they?