That's the word just out from U.S. newspaper division President Bob Dickey, who awarded yet more diamond-crusty President's Rings (left) -- this time, to 10 publishers for work in 2009.In a statement, Dickey says: "This award is the division's top honor and recognizes the outstanding work done by these publishers during a very challenging year. They all are excellent leaders who are committed to moving the company ahead strategically. I can't thank them enough for what they do every day."
The top three winners were:
• Publisher of the year: Barry Rothfeld, Poughkeepsie, N.Y. (three-time winner)
• First runner-up: Gene Williams, Muncie, Ind. (two-time winner)
• Second runner-up: Lori Driscoll, Port Huron, Mich. (two-time winner)
Other winners:
• Sherman Bodner, Binghamton, N.Y. (four-time winner)
• Margaret Buchanan, Cincinnati (11-time winner; she also was last year's top winner)
• Rindraty Limtiaco, Guam (three-time winner)
• Mark Mikolajczyk, Brevard, Fla. (four-time winner)
• Amy Pack, Visalia, Calif. (seven-time winner)
• Steve Silberman, Salem, Ore. (two-time winner)
• John Zidich, Phoenix (seven-time winner)
Judges for the President's Ring competition were Dickey, plus Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Craig Dubow; President Gracia Martore, and human resources chief Roxanne Horning.
Earlier: For yesterday's 35 other winners, diamonds are forever
Phoenix = keeping it in the family, eh?
ReplyDeleteCouldn't Dickey at least hint at the criteria for these rings? Revenue gain? Cost cuts? Best caddy?
ReplyDeleteBest phoot kiss?
ReplyDeleteJim, how about a poll on work habits of EE and ME at Gannett newspapers: hours in the office, involvement in products, community outreach?
ReplyDeleteI guess shuttering your printing press, selling your historic building and sending your copy desk to Westchester qualifies as Publisher of the Year material.
ReplyDeleteHow about stating untruths by starting with:
ReplyDelete"I categorically deny----"
9:38 here. And not mention, putting dozens of people out of work in a year.
ReplyDeleteI see Bill Albrect missed out again. Maybe you are not what you think you are BA.
ReplyDeleteThe Visalia Times-Delta has published (on its' web site) a small quip about Amy Pack getting the President's Ring, but comments on the article have been disabled..
ReplyDelete11:24 pm: D'oh!
ReplyDeletewhat a dated practice. and so useless in the grand scheme of things.
ReplyDeleteAnybody have a photo of the women's ring? I assume it's just as hideous in a smaller, just-for-her size, but I'm curious.
ReplyDelete11:24, that is becuase the entire community knows what a joke she is. When we go out and talk to business and community leaders we are constantly defending her and her incompetance. She has no connection to the community but believes she has her finger on the pulse of the community. She is so tied up in her own ego that she does not listen to her direct reports and barely acknowledges the rest of us. She is a "yes woman" so that may have played a part in it.
ReplyDeleteHey Jim. Let's start a new thread: Let's all dis on, by name, a front line employee. Let's spread the love shown in this amazing blog. Because there is nothing quite like crapping on people. I am sure you will agree. Jim, why don't you start with a worthless reporter of your choice; you KNOW you know some. Your page views will skyrocket, and your ad $ will go up! Less pleading for $!
ReplyDelete9:12. Great idea. Judging by your post, you sound like you're probably a candidate. Rather than being mentioned several times in a thread, just sign your name the next time so we can move on to the next person.
ReplyDeleteEver notice that the same people win year after year? It's rare for someone to break into the ranks of the beringed. I don't think there's any real investigation into who's done what. I think Dubow and Dickey have their favorites, and that's who's going to win every year.
ReplyDeleteGannett doling out jewelry to its bosses reminds me of the worst practices of the robber barons of old and new. The barons and their hand-picked suckups get rich off the backs of their workers. Gannett pays for country club memberships, bankers club memberships, cars, expensive parking spots, clothing allowances, management junkets, use of the corporate jet, personal computer equipment, expensive meals, drinking sessions and even mileage reimbursement to and from work for its greedy ladder climbers. We on the bottom rung rarely see the few handouts we used to see -- sports tickets, restaurant gift certificates, etc. -- while enduring furloughs, pay freezes, and pension freezes that have a disproportionate effect on our lives. That makes the company's continuing ring giveaway a hard slap in the face to the people who made those ring-wearers what they are.
ReplyDelete9:02, I'll assume you're a VTD employee then.
ReplyDelete(off topic; Jim, feel free to delete this post if you think it should go elsewhere..)
Can you offer any insight as to why articles have comments disabled, and who decides that status?
I remember a few months ago when an update to the Bryan Pinto case had its article comments disabled, and then a user posted a blog entry which later got deleted and that sent everyone who'd commented on it into a frenzy..
I believe 11:57 am forgot gas at the company pump!
ReplyDeleteI've won a couple of rings. Every time I won I shared the money as well as jewelry with my team. Without them there is no ring. No one wins these things alone. Kudos to everyone who makes the “Daily Miracle” possible.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous said...
ReplyDeleteI've won a couple of rings. Every time I won I shared the money as well as jewelry with my team. Without them there is no ring. No one wins these things alone. Kudos to everyone who makes the “Daily Miracle” possible.
5/07/2010 6:26 PM
Yeah - right! LOL! When pigs fly!!!!!!!!!!! ROFL
Rothfeld won his latest ring on the backs and the wallets of the people Gannett isn't paying squat to keep the paper and the website filled with news. How about a freaking raise? Good readership survey? How about a freaking raise? No, Rothfeld gets a freaking ring. You know where to put it.
ReplyDeleteRothfeld won his latest ring on the backs and the wallets of the people Gannett isn't paying squat to keep the paper and the website filled with news.
ReplyDeleteTrust me, he's not the only one! All of them are guilty of strutting their stuff by walking on the corpes! What a disgrace!
9:02, thanks for asking. I am not 100% sure in this case, but I have hears of times where Amy directed the EE on how to handle a story, not run a story , etc. She claims as President she can and will make that call. It could have been a glitch in the website,but Amy could have also directed us not to allow commments.
ReplyDeleteThe reason the same folks win every year is strictly a matter of economics. Think about it. No new rings have to be purchased - just a little diamond chip added to those already doled out.
ReplyDeleteThe story of Poughkeepsie seems pretty simple.
ReplyDeleteSell the building.
Shut down production.
Eliminate a union pressroom while you're at it.
Have only marginal losses in circulation and advertising revenue.
Thus, huge swing in profitability.
Win ring.
Sends message to other publishers: if you want to be recognized, you better be willing to make drastic, brutal changes that will affect a lot of people.
At Gannett, it's really not about the employees. It's a business. There will always be people willing to work. The quality of that work has slipped, but as long as the medium performs for the advertiser, the money continues to flow.
There will always be ways to profit in the newspaper business without producing a quality newspaper.
ReplyDeleteBeing committed to producing a great newspaper with profit levels that happen to keep you just below ring and bonus contention require tough decisions about the right thing to do.
7:19, Thanks for the insight -- I was quite surprised to see someone from Times-Delta post here so I figured I'd ask while I had the chance.
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