[Publisher Hunke]
"We are proud to remain America's number one choice in a daily print newspaper."
-- Publisher Dave Hunke, in a new statement on an industry report today, showing the paper suffered more circulation declines. It is word-for-word, exactly what he said six months ago.
So what if it's the same? Maybe he was proud then and still proud now?
ReplyDeleteQuotes that appear to be canned lack credibility.
ReplyDeleteMore "creative" reporting, Jim. Here's what he said in the release...
ReplyDelete“We are proud to remain America’s number one choice in a daily print newspaper. We are equally proud to see USA TODAY is able to maintain our print strength while also rapidly growing our reach on new platforms like the iPad,” said Dave Hunke, president and publisher of USA TODAY.
Here, also, is the full text of his quote six months ago:
ReplyDelete“We are proud to remain America’s number one choice in a daily print newspaper. For 10 years USA TODAY has been the leader in print. In these trying times, the most people continue to choose USA TODAY day in and day out for the news they want to know,” said Dave Hunke, president and publisher of USA TODAY.
6:05 pm: I still don't like canned quotes. But I think your observation is fair, and certainly worth further discussion.
ReplyDelete"Maintain our print strength." How exactly? A 13% erosion is maintaining your strength? Please, enlighten me boss.
ReplyDeleteThis quote is about as creative as most people in Gannett management. That's why we are where we are and it will only get worse.
ReplyDeleteIf you can't shoot straight with the public or your employees, you don't belong in the newspaper business.
Dave Hunke is one of management's biggest blowhards, second to Bob Dickey.
ReplyDeleteYou are correct to point out Mr Hinke's pathetic canned quote. Does he think people won't recognize the lame effort he put into his statement?
Or did he outsource this quote to Robin Pence our brilliant PR person who has taken every bit of marketing away from USA Today and Susan Lavington?
The bottom line, Mr. Hunke, the economy is back, and you are still acting and behaving like we are in a depression. You do not have anymore excuses to hide behind. If this trend continues, this will be the "nations" fastest shrinking national newspaper under your watch.
Starbucks is selling less than "2" papers a day, when you conservatively forcasted "9" a day. Way off!!! It looks like the younger, wealthier consumer is still not choosing the USA Today rag!
Why don't you take some tips from Mr Dickey and start just deliveilring Sunday newspapers for free and pretend that your "Sunday Circulation" is growing!!!
Starbuck's deal is a laughing joke in USAT. Hunke sold it to Dubow and Martore as the second coming and they ate it hook-line-sinker!!!
ReplyDeleteCirc is going down and we are about to lose another major hotel. Not good for us here, but Hunke has a few other tricks he can "wow" Dubow/Martore with.
A good publisher would say, "we may have taken a step back, but mark my words, USA Today is poised to reclaim its title of "The Number One Newspaper in the Nation."
ReplyDeleteAnything less...shows a lack of vision and leadership.