'Learn to Code' Announcement

This one is yet another downsizing from my long ago former employer, the Kansas City Star. In May of last year, the Star laid off 10 newsroom employees, and then earlier this month, the parent company of the Star and Witchita Eagle, McClatchy Co., offered buyouts to about 10 percent of its workforce. A subsequent article confirmed those buyouts were offered to 50 Star employees and that 24 accepted. The money was probably used as a down payment on learn to code classes.

This latest announcement was made earlier this week. From Dan Margolies at KCUR: Many Well-Known Journalists Are Leaving The Kansas City Star

"Between them, the employees accepting the buyouts have well over 200 years of combined experience at The Star.

Coupled with the recent departures of Hunter Woodall for the Associated Press in New Hampshire and Aaron Randle for a New York Times newsroom fellowship, The Star’s newsroom is down to no more than several score employees. Before the paper started reducing its newsroom staff more than a decade ago, the newsroom at its peak boasted more than 300 reporters, photographers, editors and other employees."

I've long-said that the KC Star is a former newspaper. Like so many of its comrades in the business, it ceased being an actual news outlet. It chose instead to be little more than a leftist propaganda mouthpiece advocating for every tax increase, ballot initiated cultural rot, or leftist politician burping up the malignant more government mantra. Marginally right-of-center voices were rarely, if ever, allowed any column inches on their broadsheet.

The result is yet another 'Learn to Code' announcement.

Update: ICYMI, 'Learn to Code' is a taunt. It was originated by professional journalists, and aimed at out-of-work coal miners who lost their jobs because of Obama's renewable energy agenda.

What goes around, comes around, and the turn-about has out-of-work journalists incensed.

Tweeter is now banning those who use the phrase.