Confirming months of speculation, Gannett disclosed this morning that it is establishing a new business unit that will offer marketing advice to small and midsize companies. The unit, GannettLocal, will be part of the U.S. newspaper division and will be led from offices in Phoenix by Brad Robertson, currently publisher of Gannett's Burlington, Vt., newspaper.
Robertson (left) disclosed his appointment as vice president of business development for the venture in a memo this morning to his staff at The Burlington Free Press, where he has been the top executive since November 2007.
"As many of you know," the memo says, "I have been splitting my time for several months between Burlington and Phoenix where this start-up is located. GannettLocal is a new business model focused on working with small and medium sized business to provide them a high-touch marketing consultation and a suite of multiplatform solutions (search engine marketing, e-mail, digital display, website, and geo-targeted print/flyers) delivered by a team of dedicated experts over the phone."
The note continues: "Over the next month or so, I will be transitioning over to this new role, trying to sell my house and a publisher search will be conducted." (Full memo text.)
GannettLocal is the latest effort by the nation's No. 1 newspaper publisher to ramp up advertising revenue. The Phoenix unit follows the recent emergence of Gannett's Client Solutions Group, an advertising production services team in Indianapolis and Des Moines geared toward key advertisers.
Robertson's note, and a story about his promotion in the Free Press, don't say who he will report to. Given the project's high profile, it seems likely that U.S. newspaper division President Bob Dickey will be watching it closely.
The new unit has been the subject of speculation for several months among readers here on Gannett Blog.
Related: Here's GannettLocal's Phoenix website. Plus: here's its Twitter feed, and its Facebook page. Also: Local reaction to Robertson's departure in alternative weekly 7 Days
[Photo: Free Press]
Robertson (left) disclosed his appointment as vice president of business development for the venture in a memo this morning to his staff at The Burlington Free Press, where he has been the top executive since November 2007."As many of you know," the memo says, "I have been splitting my time for several months between Burlington and Phoenix where this start-up is located. GannettLocal is a new business model focused on working with small and medium sized business to provide them a high-touch marketing consultation and a suite of multiplatform solutions (search engine marketing, e-mail, digital display, website, and geo-targeted print/flyers) delivered by a team of dedicated experts over the phone."
The note continues: "Over the next month or so, I will be transitioning over to this new role, trying to sell my house and a publisher search will be conducted." (Full memo text.)
GannettLocal is the latest effort by the nation's No. 1 newspaper publisher to ramp up advertising revenue. The Phoenix unit follows the recent emergence of Gannett's Client Solutions Group, an advertising production services team in Indianapolis and Des Moines geared toward key advertisers.
Robertson's note, and a story about his promotion in the Free Press, don't say who he will report to. Given the project's high profile, it seems likely that U.S. newspaper division President Bob Dickey will be watching it closely.The new unit has been the subject of speculation for several months among readers here on Gannett Blog.
Related: Here's GannettLocal's Phoenix website. Plus: here's its Twitter feed, and its Facebook page. Also: Local reaction to Robertson's departure in alternative weekly 7 Days
[Photo: Free Press]
Gannett cannot accomplish this stuff for its own business. The old adage -- those who can do, those who can't teach.
ReplyDeleteI hope the logo Jim inserted into the text, isn't the actual logo they are planning on using for this venture. Gannett and creativity do no go hand-in-hand. Marketing firms need to be able to provide their clients with innovation and creativity. Neither of which Gannett does very well. The more crazy ideas that they keep throwing on that metaphorical wall just make me think that they are really in desperation mode.
ReplyDeleteThe circ numbers will continue to plummet, even once the recession is long past.
Times are changing. Its a little bittersweet but I think this is a good move for the Gannett machine...
ReplyDeleteGood riddance to Brad. That guy was so ADD he couldn't stay focused on one project or goal for more than a half a second. The paper he "leads" is in the toilet. Good luck to the companies who look to him for advice. However, he is a self-described "intrapreneur," so who knows? Maybe he's onto something.
ReplyDeleteGannettLocal is Orange Soda + Planet Discover + GMTI + McKinsey (at a HUGE multi-million dollar fee) + 55 cold calling sales reps (in arizona).
ReplyDeleteSo far this initiative has amounted to very little sales and is trying to compete with Yelp, Reach Local, Local.com, Yodle, Yahoo Local, Google...
We have a newspaper publisher guy trying to pretend he is innovative. I smell a Michael Maness look-a-like.
I wonder how big Bob Dickey thinks this opportunity is going to be!?!
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ReplyDeleteLot's of luck! Is HE really the right guy? Typical GCI operates with blinders on.
ReplyDeleteBrad is a high energy, positive and bright professional - but that will only go so far - in the end no matter how good you are the true impact of that effort and talent will only be realized by the quality of the company.
ReplyDeleteI wish Brad luck. I agree with 8:55pm that he has plenty going for him to make this new venture successful.
ReplyDeleteSo the company that has trashed its own brand, and lost all credibility with its customers, is going to offer its marketing expertise to others?
ReplyDelete"to provide them a high-touch marketing consultation and a suite of multiplatform solutions (search engine marketing, e-mail, digital display, website, and geo-targeted print/flyers) delivered by a team of dedicated experts over the phone."
ReplyDeleteI know of people who do all these things in my immediate area, and they do them well. So as a small business owner, am I going to choose to work with a megacompany via a callcenter, or local people whom I know and can meet with face-to-face? A real no-brainer, unless I can achieve huge savings with the megacompany. And I doubt that's going to happen.
I'm wondering who is going to be getting this guy's job in Burlington. Perhaps they'll move Gannett flunkie Mickey Hirten back there to be the publisher or more of a GM. Any thoughts?
ReplyDeleteLet me get this straight: Gannett will charge clients big bucks for advice on how to buy ads in newspapers with shrinking circulation, on TV stations with shrinking viewership, in a chain of fake alt-weeklies that might not make it to year-end, and in assorted rags and sites of questionable value? If I'm that client, I go to an ad agency or media buying group that won't be steering me to media it owns.
ReplyDeleteSo Jim,
ReplyDeleteNobody's asked the important question, yet: How will Gannett walk the line between providing marketing services for the businesses and organizations that it likely covers?
Can you say, "conflict of interest?"
I have big concerns with this initiative being part of USCP.
They should promote a GM from within. The paper has run without Brad's full attention for over a year without issue and could use the savings recognized by not bringing in an additional high priced "publisher". That is what I am hearing from all around the building.
ReplyDeleteAnyone out there know who Brad is connected to at corporate and who is pushing him through the ranks? He is no-doublt tied closely to the top. Typically Gannett fast tracker spends 1-2 1/2 years in any position and promoted based on who he knows not what he knows.
ReplyDeleteGood work for Gannett I guess. So keep it up and I hope the change will bring more success.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!
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ReplyDeleteBrad has no idea what he is doing. Gannett Local is going down in the dumps.
ReplyDeleteWow. Why all the crazy hate? I have no interests in this product, Brad or Gannett, but it seems like all of this noise is from a couple disgruntled ex-employees. Sad and pathetic to pee all over innovation in any form. Even if this is an incomplete launch, the idea is sound and the need the product intends to address is real. Grow up people. Times have changed and it will take courage and risk to figure it out. Relax.
ReplyDeleteAs far as I have heard through several ranking Gannett insiders this 'horrible' venture doomed to fail is gaining real ground and actually making some splashes in a couple of areas, particularly Social Media and work in the Education sector. Love them or hate them, they're clearly doing something right. Word is they're hiring another 150 people over the next several months. Maybe something to do with the recent change at the top? Time will tell...
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