Omaha World-Herald publisher lifts Zieman’s column

Yesterday, Poynter’s Jim Romenesko totally busted Omaha World-Herald Publisher Terry Kroeger lifting sections of Kansas City Star Publisher Mark Zieman’s pep talk letter to readers.

Kroeger’s December 7 column featured this passage:

“To be sure, this year has been difficult for newspapers, including

your World-Herald. The economic downturn has reduced our advertising

revenue, which has forced us to adjust our expenses, including reducing

our work force by 51 employees last month.”

Which is so clearly different from this graph from Zieman’s November 29 desperate plea to readers magnum opus:

“To be sure, this year has been particularly difficult for newspapers,

including your hometown Star. The deep and widening recession has

significantly reduced our advertising revenue, which has forced us to

slash expenses and lay off valued employees.”