Update: Star-Telegram Has Already Laid Off 17 Newsroom Staffers

An addendum to the downsizing at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram: According to several sources, 17 staffers in the newsroom were let go this morning, among them managing editor Gary Hardee, science writer Carolyn Poirot, arts writer Todd Camp, Lifestyles columnist Mary Rogers, travel editor Judy Wiley and three librarians. Writers…

Dimming at the Star-Telegram, As 130 Staffers Are About to Lose a Job

As mentioned below, The McClatchy Company this morning announced it’s laying off and buying out some 1,400 employees amongst the dozens of papers that make up the newspaper chain. Moments ago, the McClatchy-owned Fort Worth Star-Telegram announced precisely how many of its employees will be excised during the coming days:…

NBC’s Tim Russert Has Died at 58

Hell of a thing. This morning, before posting the T. Boone Pickens item below, I came across an interview the Dallas billionaire gave to Charlie Rose last year. Turns out, on that same episode was Meet the Press host and NBC’s Washington bureau chief Tim Russert — who died today…

Your Weekly (Daily?) Ticket/Ex-Ticket Update

One’s talking. One’s making noise about talking again. Sat down with Mike Rhyner a while back for my upcoming (no, really, I swear it is) piece on former partner Greg Williams and stuff. As most of you know, he’s the world’s most stubborn 57-year-old curmudgeon. But when our confab turned…

Bad News Idea Makes Gawker

Yesterday’s news that The News would be delivering a bare-bones version of its daily product to the front lawns of rich folks who really don’t want it has landed Dallas’ Only Daily on Gawker, with the headline: “Unwanted Free Papers Delivered To Uninterested Rich Readers.” Which, yes, more or less…

Are You Affluent? Time-Starved? Too Cheap to Buy The News?

For those who read The Dallas Morning News’ announcement of its latest print product — Briefing, a “quick-read” freebie aimed at “time-crunched families” — the press release outlining the August 27 debut left out a few things. Which is why you should also read the Editor & Publisher piece, which…

Good Ol’ Southwest Cuisine

When your dad starts yapping about “back in the day”, this is what he’s talking about. Wanna see something cool? I know where you can jump in a time machine. Back to the days of 57-cent gas. Back to the days of Kern Tipps. Back to the good ol’ Southwest…

TV Redux: Hammer Time

The guy on the right will be the Father’s Day guest on Doocy. The guy on the left doesn’t give a damn. Apparently, Greg Williams’ recent TV appearance wasn’t as bad as some of you/us thought. At least not according to Fox 4 sports anchorman Mike Doocy and his perfect…

The Great Gordo’s TV Show: Average Gordo

Thumbs down to John Mellencamp’s new album cover. And Gordon Keith’s prime-time TV debut. I’m going to couch this review of Gordon Keith’s prime-time TV performance last night with two pillowy caveats: 1. Gordo is by far the funniest guy on Dallas radio. 2. He’s better than I’d be on…

Deconstructing Greggo

Did the Hammer nail it? Well, we all saw Greg Williams’ appearance on Mike Doocy’s Sports Sunday. It was nice to see him alive and seemingly well. But, like me, you probably weren’t exactly sure what you saw. Greggo? In a snappy suit? Admitting drug use we’ve known about for…

Dallas, Your Morning News Is About to Get a Little More Expensive

So, now we know what A. H. Belo Corporation CEO Robert Decherd meant in April when he wrote to shareholders of “creating sustainable incremental revenue streams”: He’s raising the newsstand price of The Dallas Morning News. A Friend of Unfair Park delivers the news this morning, and a customer service…

Here Goes Nothing: Sweet Greggo!

I’ve spent all day waiting for someone to post the video from Greg Willliams’ appearance last night on Mike Doocy’s Sports Adventure Happy Fun Time Hour, only, no luck. (Not even on the KDFW-Channel 4 site, which is the worst in the history of network affiliates.) Too bad too, because…

DFW Coughs Up Its Last Environmental Beat Journalist

Sierra Club A Friend of Unfair Park sends word today that Scott Streater, who’s done important, top-notch and well-circulated work covering the environmental beat for both the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and its Planet DFW blog, is shuffling off to Colorado, where his missus got a new gig. Streater, who’s been…

Your Weekend Forecast: T.O., Greggo and Lame-O

Where’s Greggo? Would you believe sitting beside Mike Doocy come Sunday night? If you think Terrell Owens was just sooo believable and charming in his sit-com acting debut. If you can’t wait to see Greg Williams again. If you want proof why I became a writer instead of a TV…