Let the executive suite tea-leaf reading begin!1. Who replaces Robert Dickey as senior group president of Gannett's Pacific Group, and chair of Arizona Republic publisher Phoenix Newspapers? The Pacific Group oversees publications in the Western U.S., including Arizona, California, Colorado, Guam, Hawaii, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas and Utah. In response to my question, company spokeswoman Tara Connell says Dickey's replacement has not been "announced yet."
2. What happened to any efforts to bring back Mary Stier (left)? She retired in August as head of Gannett's Midwest Newspaper Group and as publisher of The Des Moines Register. Her goal: to launch a multimedia venture called The Brilliance Group, targeting "aspirational boomer women across the country."
3. Did influential Gannett editor Ward Bushee bolt from Gannett and the Republic last month for the troubled San Francisco Chronicle, because he knew Dickey was leaving? Or was it all about losing his corporate patron, Sue Clark-Johnson -- Dickey's predecessor?
[Image: this morning's Republic, Newseum]
This announcement does nothing but cement Gannett's coming demise. To put a complete asshole like Bob Dickey, from advertising, into this role is like pouring kerosene onto an already raging fire. Dickey is an arrogant, homophobic, ultra-conservative plastic man who will do nothing but hasten Gannett's already rapid plunge into mediocrity. Contrary to Dubow's laudatory release, he has NO respect for the First Amendment, or for journalists, who he believes are stupid for choosing the career that they have. This is a tragic day.
ReplyDeleteBut how does that square with the Arizona Republic's elevating the openly gay Randy Lovely to the top newsroom job? Please see http://gannettblog.blogspot.com/2008/01/new-republic-editor-one-of-top-gay.html
ReplyDeleteHomophobic are you kidding me? Bob Dickey may be a lot of things but Homophobic he ain’t. He has hired and promoted more than a few Gay and Lesbian employees in Palm Springs and Phoenix. Randy was his Executive Editor in Palm Springs my friend. You are using this Blog to throw Dickey a cheap shot. It is so easy to remain anonymous on a Blog and spew your venom. Arrogant maybe. Homophobic, not on his worse day. Shame on you.
ReplyDeleteHomophobic are you kidding me? Bob Dickey may be a lot of things but Homophobic he ain’t. He has hired and promoted more than a few Gay and Lesbian employees in Palm Springs and Phoenix. Randy was his Executive Editor in Palm Springs my friend. You are using this Blog to throw Dickey a cheap shot. It is so easy to remain anonymous on a Blog and spew your venom. Arrogant maybe. Homophobic, not on his worse day. Shame on you.
ReplyDeleteThat was after corporate, which (rightly) thought highly of Randy, leaned on Dickey to change his ways. Before that, he ran off more than one talented gay or lesbian journalist, and alienated many in the gay community in PS. One G/L journalist who left his employ even has a tape of Dickey making a anti-gay comments in a private meeting. Not venom, just reality. And "anonymous" because I still work for a Gannett paper, where honesty on issues like this is not rewarded.
ReplyDeleteE&P...The Republic is advertising for the new VP of Advertising in Phoenix. Looking for a rainmaker...in the desert with no rain. Murray Wicker is gone, John Ziomek is gone, Henry Phillips is gone...and Leslie is taken.
ReplyDeleteNext dance?