Risky Kent Satire page distracted from ‘Stater’s’ primary goals

I said I wanted to take risks. I think we’ve done that.

The Monthly Kent Satire page has included an Onion-esque mix of caustic commentary, absurdity and humor. For those of us in the newsroom, we looked forward to Mein Bowl getting shut down for including seasonings in its food and the Golden Flashes becoming the May Fourthers. It could be playful and fun.

But outside the newsroom, it was a different story. I heard reporters and editors talking about readers’ confusion over the page. Many readers thought Mein Bowl was honestly being shut down and PARTA was going to be “pimped.” That’s a problem.

The decision to cut the Monthly Kent Satire page’s life one month early was a tough one. But there comes a point where a newspaper must fall back on its primary goals: to provide informative stories and analysis and to stand up for our community members, our readers.

When the integrity of our newspaper comes into question, we must do all that we can to prevent its degradation. I think our readers were confused by the format. Many didn’t understand it.

Steve Schirra, assistant Forum page editor, and I intended the page to feature a fresh, often caustic writing style and humor that would appeal to our student audience. Instead, we faced readers who distrusted the stories and could potentially lose trust for the rest of the newspaper. This cannot happen.

The semester has been a learning experience. I wouldn’t want it any other way.

Mike Klesta is a senior newspaper major and editor of the Daily Kent Stater. Contact him at [email protected].