Readers looking for news, not Kardashians

Many readers were surprised to open their Thursday paper and find a large photo of the reality-TV Kardashian sisters in place of the front page. The page, which was labeled “Advertisement,” was part of a four-page wraparound promotion for Sears. 

A sampling of the reader calls and emails to The Times:

"I was disappointed to see the Kardashians on the front page of the Los Angeles Times. At first I wasn't sure what story about them would be so important as to be front page NEWS. Of course it was just an ad. The front page of newspapers should continue to be about news. I'm very offended by this type of display, and I hope The Times’ journalistic integrity will win over this kind of insult."
-- Manny Rodriguez, West Hollywood

"Your having a Kardashian ad on the front page was cheap and tacky. This is the front page! Please keep such ads buried somewhere in the paper, not the front page."
-- Tom Runyan, Santa Monica

"Kardashians on the bloody front page! I know it's labeled an advertisement. But, come on.  How does putting these three on a mock front page jibe with your purported mission to be a respected news organization. How serious can we take your editorial work, your coverage and your opinions, in light of such a shallow display?" 
-- Earl Plummer, Torrance

"Today's fake front page with the Kardashians on it was horrifying. I opened my front door and was greeted by them in all their leopard splendor. I know it is just an ad, but honestly! You are losing credibility by pulling such cheap stunts."
-- Cinzia Zanetti, Los Angeles

"No way should an advertisement overshadow or cover the front section of a newspaper. The way it was done, with 'Los Angeles Times' at the top and 'Advertisement' in small print, makes it seem that the ad is the first page of your newspaper. It makes it seem that these Kardashian people, and all of their endorsed paraphernalia, are more important than the news!"
-- Laura Marro, Burbank

Readers weighed in on Twitter too....

 

Comments

[John Dingler, artist]

I suppose this dramatic use of Kardassians on the front page is a business decision, not a literary one. It's a panicked reaction to weak readership which has led to lower income, the result of years and years of managing editors of newspapers in general mismanaging the newspaper business. Blame managing editors for resorting to the promotion of Star Trek ET females.

[Gray, Germany]

Yeah, well, ok, but what's YOUR opinion on that? Do you think the criticism is valid, or not? As the ombudsman, you got to have the spine to make a stand against bad editorial decisions, if necessary! To simply report about complains, while omitting to take a side, is only doing half the job.

[SS]

One big caboose is enough. But three?

[David Scaletta]

To say that I was shocked and disappointed to open my morning paper is insufficient. Although I quickly figured out that this was a faux-front page, I also figured out that this must be a photo of those weird-looking, surgically enhanced reality TV stars that are "famous for being famous."

I am not sure who deserves the worst of the blame for these surgically enhanced, vapid-brained, cartoon-characters. Is it Sears, the LA Times, the shallow, mindless viewers, or the pandering pablum producers of their shows that have made these phony, faux-people so rich and so famous for no apparent reason?

Ugh, now I have that awful image burned back into my brain! I hope I can quickly find a pallet cleanser for my brain in today's paper!!!