MEDIA WATCH | THE KANSAS CITY STAR

KC Star: Are You Working for a Human Trafficker?

In a day and age where discrimination like the brand you practice is more than outmoded—it’s considered despicable, and loses people their jobs—it’s pretty sad to me that you’re willing to risk your career to put a smile on the face of a human trafficker.

December 17, 2019

Eric Adler

Kansas City Star

1601 McGee St.

Kansas City, MO 64108

Dear Eric,

Who exactly is writing your stories about Scientology at the Kansas City Star?

I ask because they’re all exactly the same—cookie-cutter pieces complete with slapped-on adjectives like “controversial” and “maligned.” Is Tony Ortega—the well-known sex trafficking advocate, the failed journalist and the controversial and maligned bigot—writing these for you?

If it’s not quite that black and white, and if the KC Star isn’t actually employing Tony Ortega (who is the antithesis of everything that Kansas City, the #MeToo movement and American society stand for) then you should know that using him as a “source” about Scientology is like getting a neo-Nazi’s “input” on a new synagogue in town.

Did they provide you no training about how to vet your sources in journalism school?

People are buying fewer papers these days. I’m sure the Kansas City Star’s own tanking print and digital readership could be salvaged by it making a priority of actually delivering the news.

I would tell you all about what Scientology actually is and does, but you and your paper obviously are not looking for the truth. You’re looking for scandal. And I can see that you work pretty hard to manufacture it. And in a day and age where discrimination like the brand you practice is more than outmoded—it’s considered despicable, and loses people their jobs—it’s pretty sad to me that you’re willing to risk your career to put a smile on the face of a human trafficker.

People are buying fewer papers these days. I’m sure the Kansas City Star’s own tanking print and digital readership could be salvaged by it making a priority of actually delivering the news.

The Church of Scientology opened in November in a beautiful, restored historic landmark, open to the community, from which it now coordinates its effective, award-winning humanitarian programs, praised by local leaders. The Church helped the Crossroads Arts District celebrate Christmas with an outdoor Winter Wonderland, also open to all.

How you manage to make that “controversial” is beyond me. And apparently beyond your readers too.

The people of Kansas City don’t need more of the bigotry that is already far too prevalent in this unenlightened age.

But if Tony Ortega is writing your stories for you, I’m not surprised you don’t care.

Sincerely,

Edward Parkin