A reader called me to express her irritation that a post on the Midwest Voices blog ran without a byline. "Shouldn't these people putting out their opinions also put their names on them?" she asked. Absolutely. And this time, it turns out it was a technical error
Readers often point out to me when they think their own party is getting too much scrutiny, or the other side of the aisle is getting off easy in The Star. But here's one who doesn't seem to have a dog in the fight when it comes to the major parties: "I noticed that you did a fact checker for the Obama (State of the Union address)
A reader was extremely agitated at the design of today's Page A1. The editors' priorities in choosing items to highlight "just stink," she said. She very much approved of the large photo and story about Pope Benedict XVI at the top of the page
A caller today noted that coverage of the Grammy Awards identifies the band Fun as the winner of the trophies for Best New Artist and Song of the Year. But that isn't right, according to my caller. "Look it up
Many opinion pieces in The Star are extremely pointed and provocative by design. But when a column may use facts that are inaccurate or interpreted questionably in the service of a thesis, it falls to me to check out readers’ concerns.
A caller this morning urged The Star to "pay even more attention to the out-of-control murders in this city." She had positive things in general to say about today's front-page centerpiece on the KC NoVa program, which aims to prevent violent crimes before they happen, in part by conducting sweeps to execute arrest warrants, and also by offering education, drug treatment and other services.
A recent story in the Sports Daily section about lucrative TV contracts for baseball broadcasts spoke with Andrew Zimbalist, the Robert A. Woods professor of economics at Smith College
I've heard from two readers today who encouraged The Star to cover today's Right to Life Rally in Washington, D.C., equitably in print tomorrow. "It would be appreciated if The K.C. Star would carry an accurate but non-biased article on the Right to Life Rally in Washington D.C.," emailed one
I was recently browsing through books in a shop while I was on a layover at the Atlanta airport. One book I was looking at was the paperback edition of a hardback best-seller -- one of the more popular nonfiction books in recent years
Even though the word is very often used to refer to someone or something having multiple personalities, that is a grave misunderstanding of the nature of the actual mental illness of schizophrenia.
An emailer just now pointed to a headline on a story on KansasCity.com about some GOP leaders who are backing plans to change how Electoral College votes are awarded, possibly making them proportional instead of winner-takes-all. There's nothing new at all here. All political parties consistently advocate change to the system, and it's self-evident that they want to do so to gain political advantage
Does it seem intentional to you? It does to this reader.
I often get questions from readers asking whether The Star can accept the plastic bags carriers wrap newspapers in for reuse. That's always the best strategy for keeping objects out of landfills, after all. Unfortunately, that isn't possible, as carriers need to use new bags in order to package together thousands of papers quickly
My column in the print edition today is about the consistent call I hear from readers for The Star to be vigilant in its watchdog role, especially when it comes to government. In general, those readers don't think the paper does enough. I've heard from several who think I did a poor job with the column
Today a reader sent me a link to a commentary by Mick LaSalle, movie critic at The San Francisco Chronicle. Its headline pretty much says it all: "Violent media poisoning nation's soul." LaSalle recalls his original reaction to "The Dark Knight Rises," which he saw before the Aurora, Colo
I'll be taking a little time off until Dec. 31
I've spoken to a number of readers recently who have been just plain bummed out by current events. And with all the death and destruction that's been occupying so much of the news lately, how could anyone not understand? I hear predominantly from readers who care about hard news
