This is Journalism?

In what could be a textbook case of journalistic malpractice, the erstwhile Kansas City Star finally reported on the DUI arrest and subsequent firing of its columnist merely a month after it happened. Did we mention that the columnist, Rhonda Chriss Lokeman, is also married to Publisher Mark Zieman? 

The bottom line here is that the management of The Kansas City Star desperately tried to hide a DUI arrest of one of its columnists. In an attempt to limit the damage they relieved Lokeman of her duties. Only after being called on it by The Pitch did a Star reporter finally report on both the DUI and her sudden retirement. 

There are several issues to deal with here, so let's walk through them.

Lokeman was a Kansas City Star employee. Yes, we know she worked for a syndicate and The Star bought her column. Hogwash. The Star was one of the only papers running her column- hence they were paying the vast majority of her salary. The only reason The Star carried that column, which they would have overpaid for even if it was free, was because of who she was married too.

Odd, isn't it that Lokeman got her DUI and retired in the same week? Even more weird is that there was no announcement from The Star at that time, nor did she mention her "retirement" in the column. With all the heat The Star took for publishing a crappy column from the publisher's wife- you would think they would have trumpeted the announcement.

Finally, over a month after it happened (and after being scooped by The Pitch) The Star finally reported the details, but inexplicably they could not reach Lokeman. Here's a thought: try the employee phone tree under Zieman. Or perhaps ask Mark for her cell phone number.

The Kansas City Star should be ashamed of itself. For an organization that rails about the importance of transparency and ethics- these decisions show their management's blatant hypocrisy. The only thing more embarrassing is the fact that their reporters either didn't know about the incident or were too afraid to print it. That speaks volumes about the level of journalism being practiced at 17th and Grand.

And Lokeman. Driving on a rim? No headlights? One glass of wine? That is either the largest glass of wine in human history or she's lying. Rhonda, you refused a breathalyzer and now you have to pay the price. You should drop your silly lawsuit that wastes taxpayer dollars and accept your rightful punishment.

However, lets not skip over the good news for Kansas City. No longer will the ever shrinking number of Kansas City Star readers be subjected to Lokeman's inane and uninformed commentary. Her column will long be remembered as the absolute worst writing in Kansas City history- bar none.

To celebrate the end of that era, The Source will raise a glass of wine and wish Lokeman good health in her "retirement."

Comments

[LGT]

Boy, I sure hope you never make an embarrassing mistake like Lokeman did. If you do, I sure hope people treat you with more compassion than you've shown here.

[Mark]

Compassion is feeling a persons pain and helping them deal with it. Covering the circumstances of an illegal act and especially one which endangers others is part of helping her deal with a definite problem. Hiding it under the rug is enabling, which never helps stop dangerous behavior.
Driving a 3000 pound vehicle capable of moving 100 plus miles an hour while under the influence should be looked at as attempted murder.

[LGT]

As I said, I hope it never happens to you.

[PCR]

I hope it never happens to you LGT. I also hope you are not crossing the street when Rhonda is coming home from her art studio or Chuck Grahsm coming home from a bar in Columbia - Stand Up Chuck - oh God Bless Ya!!!!!!!1

[hoosier]

What is good ol' Chuck up to now that he lost?