Staff
Jon Niccum (Entertainment Editor)
Although born in Kentucky and raised in Kansas City, I came to Lawrence in 1983 to attend Kansas University and never left.
While securing a degree in film studies, I earned a full-time living as a musician by teaching guitar/bass lessons at Mass Street Music, playing in a variety of working bands (The Budinskis, Easterday, Groovehead, Bobby and the Chuxx) and toiling as a sound engineer/producer.
In 1993, I embarked on an unexpected career in journalism via a seven-year stint as music/film editor at The Pitch, a Kansas City weekly newspaper, where I co-founded and produced the first four KLAMMIES (the Kansas City/Lawrence Area Music Awards). Additionally, I hosted "Nightlife," a music/sketch comedy segment of the weekly series "KC Roundabout" on Time Warner Cable.
I joined the Journal-World in 2000, first as editor of its weekly entertainment publication, The Mag, then later as the daily's entertainment editor.
In addition to my journalistic endeavors, I served four years as president of the Kansas City Film Critics Circle, and composed the official record label bios for artists such as Evanescence, Jeff Beck, Leon Redbone and Joe Satriani.
Lately, I've become immersed in filmmaking by writing or co-writing the short films "Paint Shaker," "Zero the Counter," "Merriman's Circle," "Misfortune Smiles" and the feature "Stuck!" Occasionally, I even turn up in front of the camera, acting in pictures such as "Watch Out," "C.S.A. — The Confederate States of America" and the upcoming "Earthwork."
I share a house with my wife, Ann, who is director of video media for the World Company, and daughter, Lola.
I have no tattoos.
Recent stories
- Net Worth: Endless supply of television tunes elicits nostalgia, confusion
- November 6, 2009
- When local X 92.9 FM abruptly changed its format last month from modern rock to television theme songs, only the most mentally frail believed it to be a permanent solution.
- Western union: ‘Only Good Indian’ explores cultural history through revisionist drama
- November 6, 2009
- Lawrence film director Kevin Willmott spent the week in Alaska, where his latest work, “The Only Good Indian,” opened at theaters as part of Native American Heritage Month.
- Net Worth: The Monster Engine combines tots and terror
- October 30, 2009
- It’s no secret that Halloween is my favorite holiday.
- Primal fears: The best horror films of the decade
- October 23, 2009
- An unexplored cave system. A quarantined apartment complex. What was that noise?
- Net Worth: Say cheese: Oops, you have been photobombed
- October 23, 2009
- It was senior picture day at my high school.
- Rock ‘n’ roll fantasy: Chris Daughtry turns from ‘American Idol’ castoff into chart-topping rock icon
- October 16, 2009
- Daughtry. Although the name has yet to conjure the singular power of Hendrix or Clapton or Cobain, singer-guitarist Chris Daughtry is well on his way.
- Beyond the beat: Scottish percussion icon redefines the notions of sound
- October 9, 2009
- During a rehearsal last week with the Lexington Philharmonic in Kentucky, Evelyn Glennie invited a group of hearing-impaired children on the stage with her.
- Net Worth: Favorite album covers inspire user illusions
- October 9, 2009
- Few things were as revered in junior high school as one’s album collection.
- Journey to the center of the ‘Earthwork’: Locally made feature film readies for national premiere
- October 2, 2009
- Crop circles. That is the conclusion most people unfamiliar with the film “Earthwork” jump to when writer-director Chris Ordal begins to describe the plot.
- Net Worth: Revelatory music video relies on ‘crowdsourced’ contributions
- October 2, 2009
- Do people still watch music videos?
Recent photos
Veteran screenwriter Jay Wolpert spoke to students at Free State High School on Thursday.
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