Comments on: Two little words, so fun to write http://gearino.com/index.php/2009/04/23/two-little-words-so-fun-to-write/ Just another WordPress weblog Tue, 22 May 2012 09:29:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.1 by: Joyce http://gearino.com/index.php/2009/04/23/two-little-words-so-fun-to-write/#comment-10495 Mon, 04 May 2009 02:27:03 +0000 http://gearino.com/index.php/2009/04/23/two-little-words-so-fun-to-write/#comment-10495 I got a page Dan. :) I got a page Dan. :)

]]> by: grumpy http://gearino.com/index.php/2009/04/23/two-little-words-so-fun-to-write/#comment-10082 Mon, 27 Apr 2009 14:33:35 +0000 http://gearino.com/index.php/2009/04/23/two-little-words-so-fun-to-write/#comment-10082 GD, you were much too kind. Howard Weaver is an asshole of the highest degree. GD, you were much too kind. Howard Weaver is an asshole of the highest degree.

]]> by: NotThatImportant http://gearino.com/index.php/2009/04/23/two-little-words-so-fun-to-write/#comment-9820 Thu, 23 Apr 2009 20:54:03 +0000 http://gearino.com/index.php/2009/04/23/two-little-words-so-fun-to-write/#comment-9820 I've only met Weaver a few times but, on those occasions, he still carried some respect for his commitment to good journalism. Frankly, I find his recent public comments out of character with the person I met. I'm not sure I would call it the peter principal (although one could probably make a strong argument for that), but I think he became a victim of his own ascension and somewhere along the way lost his bearings. He enjoyed the luxuries of his success way too much -- before the Auto CEOs took in the tail from congress, there was Weaver flying the corporate jet to Raleigh and bedding at the 5 star Umsted to break the news that times were hard and layoffs were coming. Fishman on the other hand, always seemed to function with only the best interests of the organization in mind. Very intelligent indeed, successful in his own right but still grounded in the real world. Although if all your arguments survived his vetting, I may have to reevaluate :-) I’ve only met Weaver a few times but, on those occasions, he still carried some respect for his commitment to good journalism. Frankly, I find his recent public comments out of character with the person I met. I’m not sure I would call it the peter principal (although one could probably make a strong argument for that), but I think he became a victim of his own ascension and somewhere along the way lost his bearings. He enjoyed the luxuries of his success way too much — before the Auto CEOs took in the tail from congress, there was Weaver flying the corporate jet to Raleigh and bedding at the 5 star Umsted to break the news that times were hard and layoffs were coming.

Fishman on the other hand, always seemed to function with only the best interests of the organization in mind. Very intelligent indeed, successful in his own right but still grounded in the real world. Although if all your arguments survived his vetting, I may have to reevaluate :-)

]]> by: G.D. Gearino http://gearino.com/index.php/2009/04/23/two-little-words-so-fun-to-write/#comment-9816 Thu, 23 Apr 2009 19:03:39 +0000 http://gearino.com/index.php/2009/04/23/two-little-words-so-fun-to-write/#comment-9816 NTI: Yes, Charles Fishman was my boss at the N&O. In fact, he recruited me to join the paper in 1993 (much to Howard Weaver's later regret, I imagine). Not only is my opinion of Charles not different from yours, it's even more respectful. Charles is one of the smartest people I know, and I'm proud to call him a friend. We have edited each other's books and frequently bounce arguments off the other to test them for holes. You're wise to place faith in his judgment. NTI: Yes, Charles Fishman was my boss at the N&O. In fact, he recruited me to join the paper in 1993 (much to Howard Weaver’s later regret, I imagine). Not only is my opinion of Charles not different from yours, it’s even more respectful. Charles is one of the smartest people I know, and I’m proud to call him a friend. We have edited each other’s books and frequently bounce arguments off the other to test them for holes. You’re wise to place faith in his judgment.

]]> by: NotThatImportant http://gearino.com/index.php/2009/04/23/two-little-words-so-fun-to-write/#comment-9815 Thu, 23 Apr 2009 18:55:51 +0000 http://gearino.com/index.php/2009/04/23/two-little-words-so-fun-to-write/#comment-9815 Fishman is a stand up guy that helped build a great staff before the MNI takeover. In my opinion (which by definition isn't that important), he was under appreciated in the aftermath. Pretty sure he used to be GD's boss so he may have a different opinion but I know a few folks who thought highly of him including one Fishman recruit who left partly because he got the bums rush. She won a pulitzer a few months after starting her new gig in Baltimore. From my perspective, Fishman's and Frank Jr's accounts are the more accurate ones. It was a somewhat slow transition but MNI eventually sucked the life out of the paper. Fishman is a stand up guy that helped build a great staff before the MNI takeover. In my opinion (which by definition isn’t that important), he was under appreciated in the aftermath. Pretty sure he used to be GD’s boss so he may have a different opinion but I know a few folks who thought highly of him including one Fishman recruit who left partly because he got the bums rush. She won a pulitzer a few months after starting her new gig in Baltimore. From my perspective, Fishman’s and Frank Jr’s accounts are the more accurate ones. It was a somewhat slow transition but MNI eventually sucked the life out of the paper.

]]> by: Rick http://gearino.com/index.php/2009/04/23/two-little-words-so-fun-to-write/#comment-9812 Thu, 23 Apr 2009 15:15:42 +0000 http://gearino.com/index.php/2009/04/23/two-little-words-so-fun-to-write/#comment-9812 It appears that Weaver is trying intellectualize a position that is fundamentally flawed. Mr. Fishman, formerly of the N&O, eats Weaver's lunch in a response in his column (well worth the read). Blow all the smoke aside and it seems that Weaver essentially is a whore for McClatchy's bad decision-making then and now. It appears that Weaver is trying intellectualize a position that is fundamentally flawed. Mr. Fishman, formerly of the N&O, eats Weaver’s lunch in a response in his column (well worth the read). Blow all the smoke aside and it seems that Weaver essentially is a whore for McClatchy’s bad decision-making then and now.

]]> by: Barb http://gearino.com/index.php/2009/04/23/two-little-words-so-fun-to-write/#comment-9810 Thu, 23 Apr 2009 13:58:06 +0000 http://gearino.com/index.php/2009/04/23/two-little-words-so-fun-to-write/#comment-9810 Has anyone seen any comments about HOW the N&O can continue putting out a paper with a dwindling staff? We've seen the paper shrink and shrink... how long until it just disappears? I read about the plan to use the Charlotte writer's content; is this the way it's going to go--reduce, reuse, recycle? Has anyone seen any comments about HOW the N&O can continue putting out a paper with a dwindling staff? We’ve seen the paper shrink and shrink… how long until it just disappears?

I read about the plan to use the Charlotte writer’s content; is this the way it’s going to go–reduce, reuse, recycle?

]]> by: RaoulDuke http://gearino.com/index.php/2009/04/23/two-little-words-so-fun-to-write/#comment-9806 Thu, 23 Apr 2009 12:22:50 +0000 http://gearino.com/index.php/2009/04/23/two-little-words-so-fun-to-write/#comment-9806 Howard the Duck is a pontificating blowhard who sold out a long time ago to the corporation that is driving The N & O and other papers into the ground. One more time, Howie: It's the debt, you sanctimonious sellout -- not the failure of hard-working folks to get on board fast enough with Gary Glitter's grand vision of restructuring a legacy media company for modern times. Enough pissing on both the folks who got the chop for your mismanagement and hubris and those who are still in the trenches you left a long time ago. And why don't you take a long gulp of the advice you gave a commentator on your blog when last you lifted your leg -- STFU. Howard the Duck is a pontificating blowhard who sold out a long time ago to the corporation that is driving The N & O and other papers into the ground. One more time, Howie: It’s the debt, you sanctimonious sellout — not the failure of hard-working folks to get on board fast enough with Gary Glitter’s grand vision of restructuring a legacy media company for modern times. Enough pissing on both the folks who got the chop for your mismanagement and hubris and those who are still in the trenches you left a long time ago. And why don’t you take a long gulp of the advice you gave a commentator on your blog when last you lifted your leg — STFU.

]]> by: Bob http://gearino.com/index.php/2009/04/23/two-little-words-so-fun-to-write/#comment-9805 Thu, 23 Apr 2009 12:06:18 +0000 http://gearino.com/index.php/2009/04/23/two-little-words-so-fun-to-write/#comment-9805 Mr. Weaver is just ignorant or outright lying about the state of the N&O finances when McClatchy bought the paper. Within the year before McClatchy bought the N&O I had the priviledge of sitting in on an meeting that updated the N&O financials and today still have a copy of the handwritten notes in my file I made during that meeting. So I know of what I speak. I also have experience in working for other chains so Mr. Howard I knew how to interpret what I heard. I prefer not to give exact amounts here, but will say The N&O at that time was making profits that were double digit percentage wise to revenue collected. They had debt as we all know, but the company was not burdened by the debt versus cash flow needed to pay the debt. Furthermore Mr. Daniels was spending most adequately for further needs in capital spending. Yes, he could have been tigher in expense control, but Mr. Daniels obviously saw greater purpose in having a strong company which could write news as it desired and remain financially strong. Mr. Weaver is just ignorant or outright lying about the state of the N&O finances when McClatchy bought the paper. Within the year before McClatchy bought the N&O I had the priviledge of sitting in on an meeting that updated the N&O financials and today still have a copy of the handwritten notes in my file I made during that meeting. So I know of what I speak. I also have experience in working for other chains so Mr. Howard I knew how to interpret what I heard. I prefer not to give exact amounts here, but will say The N&O at that time was making profits that were double digit percentage wise to revenue collected. They had debt as we all know, but the company was not burdened by the debt versus cash flow needed to pay the debt. Furthermore Mr. Daniels was spending most adequately for further needs in capital spending. Yes, he could have been tigher in expense control, but Mr. Daniels obviously saw greater purpose in having a strong company which could write news as it desired and remain financially strong.

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