Newspaper Protest
the K Chronicles: “Newspaper Protest”
The Official K Chronicles and (Th)ink Website
Humorous comics, often with political overtones. The official K Chronicles and (th)ink website by cartoonist Keith Knight!
the K Chronicles: “Newspaper Protest”
This is one of the things that eventually soured me on my 10 years of newspaper reporting. Dave Barry phrased it very well when he said that newspapers are run by editors who can’t remember any hit song since “Yellow Submarine.” Of course, they blame the stagnation of newspapers on that there “internet” thingy that they only vaguely understand. In fact, what’s killing newspapers is stagnant management, timidity, and the corporate drive to squeeze profits as high as a 40% pretax profit (at a Gannett newspaper I worked for).
Meanwhile, a lot of the alt-weeklies are doing pretty well despite everything. Not just because they have steamy personals, but because they’re willing to do some original reporting instead of pro-forma stenography, and they’re even willing to sometimes honk the noses of the establishment types.
Bummer, Keef — if I was out there I’d have been glad to join you!
Interesting timing Keef – I sent you a lead recently :)
Monty..
I’m on it!
You should ask people passing by, especially those who work there, to film your protest, than post it on youtube
I finally got a look at that baby strip they replaced your strip with — not much of much. I’m a little surprised that my city let you down so badly, but then again all the “cool” people read their news online anyway ..
Could you put quote marks around the word “cool” in the above hotheaded statement please .. thanks ..
It still kills my how many of those ancient strips are still running even though the original creators aren’t doing them anymore. Why can’t we get fresh new strips instead? That being said I dropped my newspaper subscription several years ago so I really shouldn’t comment, should I? In addition to the fact that I didn’t read enough of it to make it worth my money I would have to wade through the 2/3rds of the comics that were dreck to get to the few that I enjoyed. Now I just buy compiliations (signed, of course!) from the author at Comic-Con every year. :)
The sad thing for me when I read the comic page these days is given whichever local rag it is I know which strips are where and I jump all up-and-down/ left-and-right so that I can read the ones I don’t care for (Why? ‘Cause even a Blondie or Hagar will once in a blue moon have a chuckle and I need to be ready for when that happens) and then enjoy the remaining strips that have some zest for life in them as the last things I read on the comics page to make my day better. Sort of like putting up with boiled Brussell Sprouts if it means you get steak at the end (and Keef, my friend, you’re prime rib, baby) (If it helps the analogy feel free to substitute Bacon or Lobster Roll instead).
I was not happy when my paper ended your strip, and the baby one they replaced it with just makes my soul die a little each day. People shouldn’t have to go to the internet to read good, fresh, relevant comics. Guess I will, though.
@ TBee
The jury’s still out re: the Seattle Times. I suggest still writing to them to bring my strip back:
timescomics@seattletimes.com
I don’t understand–did they break a contract w/you, Keith? Otherwise, they simply went with something else for whatever reason. Is that unfortunate? Indeed, for you it is, and I sympathize. But your assertion that reader comments should not factor in the decision to add or drop a strip is crazy talk. What business would willingly ignore the desires of their customers and expect to thrive or even survive? No one should ever dictate the content of your strips but they have every right to run them or not, especially if there’s asignificant negative response to ’em. So, if say, an editor loves a strip but it’s getting negative feedback from readers the paper should keep running it, regardless? I understand this is your livelihood and it’s hard to be objective in this situation but c’mon! Forgive me, Keith, but you’re coming across in this instance as a dude with a naive sense of entitlement. You know as well as I how many awesome books, movies, albums, etc don’t get the love we think they deserve. It’s sad and unfortunate but it happens; you move on. I’ve enjoyed your work for years and wish you nothing but more and more success, but I would think someone who’s been around as long as you have would have figured this out by now.
@ Kikos
Comic surveys are bullsh**…And are generally fixed.
I’ll say it again: What other part of the paper do editor’s rely on readers surveys? Can you imagine if the readers got to vote on the columnists, the writers, the photographers, the op-eds and the puzzles?
George Herriman’s Krazy Kat, and other strips persevered because editors and publishers believed in them..not because of reader surveys.
I been coming on here and reading for some time and wanted to finally say hi to everyone. i cant wait to participate more now that i broke the ice.
Excellent flair for writing.
I remember working at a newspaper and whenever they’d meet to decide what strips to cut, the editors would be in that room looking like Jack Lemmon in “The China Syndrome.” Each had the same feeling… “I don’t want to deal with the readers calling in to complain.” I remember recommending “Andy Capp” be removed to make room for “Robotman” because it was quirky and fun. They said “No… Andy Capp has a following.” And I said “Yeah… but, ummm… it’s about an Irish guy who gets drunk and beats his wife…” They still wouldn’t budge.
English…..Andy Capp, is English, and his Hot-Fries, are delicous!
Yes they are Newsman