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Jon Niccum (Entertainment Editor)

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Raised in Kansas City, Jon Niccum has lived in Lawrence for the last 25 years. While securing his degree in film studies from Kansas University, he 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) and toiling as a sound engineer.



In 1993, Niccum embarked on a career in journalism via a seven-year stint as music/film editor at The Pitch, a Kansas City weekly newspaper, where he co-founded and produced the KLAMMIES (the Kansas City/Lawrence Area Music Awards). Additionally, he hosted "Nightlife," a music/sketch comedy segment of the weekly series "KC Roundabout" on Time Warner Cable.



He 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 Niccum’s journalistic endeavors, he served four years as president of the Kansas City Film Critics Circle, wrote/produced the films "Zero the Counter," "Merriman's Circle" and "Paint Shaker," and composed the official record label bios for artists such as Evanescence, Jeff Beck, Leon Redbone and Joe Satriani.



He shares a house with his wife Ann, production manager of Free State Studios, and daughter Lola.

Recent stories

Rash of social networking sites overwhelms author
By Jon Niccum
October 3, 2008
In terms of socializing, the Internet is like the party that never ends. Each month a new crop of social networking sites sashays into the cultural consciousness. Some are general, some peculiarly specific. It’s easy to first embrace the concept by joining an obvious candidate such as Facebook. But after prods from a few acquaintances, that lone site can easily expand into a dozen more.
Northern exposure: Alaskan actor spins tales that celebrate his cultural heritage in ‘ReGenerations’
By Jon Niccum
October 3, 2008
During the last few months, Alaska has come to signify far more than just being a big, cold state. For Allan Hayton, an Athabascan Indian raised in his indigenous Alaska, the state embodies an even deeper cultural identity. Hayton employs his skills as an actor, storyteller and playwright to spin tales that celebrate his heritage.
Street scene: KU opens gallery in popular Crossroads District
By Jon Niccum
September 28, 2008
Thousands of potential art patrons began flooding into the Crossroads District of Kansas City, Mo. And sculptor Matthew Weaver was primed for his debut at the area’s First Fridays event. The Kansas University graduate student from St. George, Utah, had created a geometric piece consisting of wood, glass and wire. When the doors opened for the first time at the new Red Door Art Gallery in September, he recognized his work would likely enjoy its biggest audience yet.
Hairstyles provoke confusion, scorn on the Web
By Jon Niccum
September 26, 2008
It is anybody’s guess how people will respond to a particular column — or IF anybody will respond. But my previous Net Worth has generated a fair amount of feedback. Most of it has little to do with the content. Rather, it’s the accompanying photo that did the trick.
Street-fighting woman: Local boxing film battles its way into national spotlight
By Jon Niccum
September 23, 2008
There’s a maxim in Hollywood that states boxing is the sport that makes the easiest transition to the big screen. The Oscars have showered boxing films with honors over the years, with standouts such as “Rocky,” “Raging Bull” and “Million Dollar Baby” finding equal success at the box office. But one rarely comes across a boxing picture made by locals in Kansas.
Outside the law: KU alum filmmaker and Lawrence actor collaborate on ‘Lakeview Terrace’
By Jon Niccum
September 18, 2008
For the first time in the 11 years since he became an internationally renowned filmmaker, Neil LaBute is on the brink of an elusive, unlikely achievement. The Kansas University graduate has already solidified his reputation as a master of crafting controversial tales involving revenge, betrayal and cruelty. But nothing has quite prepared him for the expectations of how his latest project, “Lakeview Terrace,” will be received.
Willmott to recommend must-see political films
By Jon Niccum
September 15, 2008
Despite the next two months set to be dominated by politics, few political films are to be found at the multiplex. So Lawrence filmmaker Kevin Willmott decided to merge politics with cinema — at least for an evening.
Web allows photos to take on new identities
By Jon Niccum
September 12, 2008
In past decades people lived in fear of being shown pictures that caught them in compromising positions. But in the post-Internet age, folks seem to embrace it.
Homeland insecurity: Laurie Anderson takes uncompromising look at how America has changed
By Jon Niccum
September 12, 2008
Laurie Anderson is a threat to national security. At least that’s how the FBI viewed Anderson after encountering one of her inventions. Several years ago, the renowned experimental musician/artist created a device called a “talking stick” for an opera she was performing about “Moby Dick.”
Niccum: Success of summer movies can’t be measured by sites
By Jon Niccum
September 5, 2008
Back in 1995 when I was writing a film column for an alt-weekly publication, I started getting pestered by people about the movie ads we were running. These folks would call (not e-mail) to ask if I knew what those strange markings meant that began with “www” and were stripped along the bottom of the ad.

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