As some readers may suspect, I am no particular fan of Lee Enterprises. So you might anticipate I would have a snide response to the decision by Editor & Publisher magazine (subscription required) to name Lee CEO Mary Junck as Publisher of the Year 2005.
Actually, I don't -- except perhaps to point out that CEO and publisher are not exactly the same job, even when they are held by the same person. But that's E&P's worry, not hers.
Ms. Junck probably deserves the accolade if for no other reason than Lee's huge purchases of the Howard Publications and Pulitzer chains. That's an impressive investment in the future of a mature and probably permanently declining industry. Impressive, even if not smart -- and possibly smart, too.
A sidebar in the E&P story asks the crucial question: "Just how good are Lee's papers?" The puff-filled article quotes only one naysayer: Nathaniel Blumberg, former dean of the University of Montana journalism school. Nathaniel doesn't say much to E&P, but he says it emphatically: "My contempt for Lee Enterprises and what it has done to the journalism profession runs so deep that I prefer not to be quoted at this time."
Me neither.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
10 comments:
On an urelated topic, just WHY does the blog Dirt Between the Empty Space Between the Ears fella choose NOT to allow access to his blog comments?!! Wow! Seems that this backeast dandy don't LIKE contrary opinion! Either that or he just plain cowardly to engage in real debate! Sad, so sad that this fella chose Montana to hide out in!! Rightwingers, ya just can't count on them to fight fair! Says lots about their "character"!!!
Larry Kralj, Environmental Rangers!
Looks like you were able to leave a comment just fine.
What's your beef?
Aaa! Seems that Dirt Between the Empty Space Between Sen. Cornhole's Ears had a change of heart! That's good! Apparently he's NOT the sniveling coward I thought he was. He only temporarily removed my post! And then thought better of it!
LK
I have mixed feelings about the GAZETTE.
I don't like all their editorial policies, while on the other hand I think Ed Kemmick , Tom Howard, and Jan Falstad are gifted writers.
They'll never see an advertising dollar from me as long as they have unsigned 'GAZETTE OPINIONS'.
The fact that it took the Seattle PI to come into Montana to report about the deaths and coverups of the asbestos fiasco in Libby tells you everything you need to know about Lee Enterprise's priorities. Lee's publishers will never risk offending the powers that be, even when it involves deaths of the citizenry, because the publishers will be fired if they do not make the finanical plan for the quarter. Those same publishers employ editors who have been institutionally castrated (sorry for the sexist transitive verb, but I can't think of an equal opportunity one). Lee is also alone among the major newspaper corporations in that it has no professional ethics policy to guide its newsgathering.
And also very sad is the fact that NO state paper will look into the fiasco of the proposed purchase of the mall in Helena for the Historical Society. The corruption is unbelievable, and the taxpayers of Montana stand to lose MILLIONS! The eyes-wide-shut policy is NOT always the best policy for either the taxpayers OR Montanans!
LK
I believe one of David's beef's with Lee is the fact that they have a Wal Martesque approach to competition--they hate it.
The Outpost fills a niche and a very nice one at that. The Outpost is no threat to the Gazette but they way they act one would think the Outpost was storming the gates of the castle.
Yes, there are some talented people at the Gazette just as there have been in every business I have worked in. But talented troops cant always make the Generals look good. In the past few years some very good reporters have left the Gazette and they have not been replaced. I long for the days of hard hitting reporters like Rich Geissler who really did some real investigative reporting in Billings.
GD
GD,
Man, we're both gray hairs. You mentioned Rich Geissler and triggered my memories. I worked with him way back when (mid-70s) when I was just "growing up" from a cub reporter to a real one. Wonder what he's doing nowadays?
Dennis Gaub
Dennis, you guys still have hair? You lucky bastards!
LK
Yeah, Larry, a little hair still decorates my noggin. You mean you've joined the bald ranks?
Dennis
Post a Comment