Today's front-page centerpiece story is about credit card "skimmers," illicit devices that thieves can hide in card-reading machines to capture people's private banking information.
The story mentions a local case where a skimmer was traced to a service station on State Line Road. So why doesn't The Star's story name the station?
Some readers were not happy to see the centerpiece photo on today's front page, used to illustrate a story on record gun sales in recent weeks.
In the photo, Chris Coad, owner of UT Arms in Kansas City, Kan., is seen holding an AR-15, which he sells in his shop.
"Thank you to The Star for ruining my breakfast," said one caller I spoke with this morning. "We don't need to see those people with their guns in our paper."
An interesting complaint from an unnamed caller about the topic that was occupying the central content module at the top of KansasCity.com for much of this morning:
"Why are you giving this big space to the Oscars? It's just the movie industry patting itself on the back. It's PR, not news."
I have to say I'm with her completely on this one -- but I acknowledge readily that we're both out of step with the mainstream, too.
I've spoken to more than one reader this week criticizing The Star for running too much about the Chiefs' search for a new head coach and general manager. Today's front-page story about the official introduction of Andy Reid as coach was too much for this reader, who I'll let speak for herself.
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. One emailer said he found it ironic that I pointed out partisan journalists can run into trouble getting comment from politicians on the other side of the aisle, as he thinks The Star is extremely partisan itself.
Reader Patrick Clark brought up an interesting, well-articulated point:
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. theater massacre:
A reader made objections to me today about The Star's policy not to publish anonymous letters to the editor.
"I don't see why I should be forbidden from sending in 'name withheld by request' letters. After all, that's the same thing the editorial board does with what it writes on the same page."
I'll be taking a little time off until Dec. 31. If you have an error catch while I'm gone, please contact the reporter using the information at the end of the story.
If you'd like to speak with an editor instead, please visit the "Contact Us" page on KansasCity.com for a complete newsroom directory.
Thanks for all your great feedback this year. Your opinions make a difference, and readers are responsible for most error catches. See you back here on New Year's Eve. Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all.
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. I get much more criticism of The Star for being too frivolous than for being too serious.
A caller today pointed out a fan in the stands from yesterday's Chiefs game whose photo made it into the paper. The Raiders fan is pictured on Page B6 of today's print edition, taking part in a moment of silence for the victims of last week's school shooting in Connecticut.
"I think it was in very, very poor taste for (The Star) to print these pictures," said my caller. He pointed out that the man is wearing what appears to be a bandolier and a wristband made of bullets. The man is also in two other images in the same spread.
