 |
| Callinan |
Amid
published speculation during the past 48 hours that he may be leaving as executive editor of one of Gannett's bigger dailies --
The Cincinnati Enquirer -- Tom Callinan has
now told alternative weekly CityBeat in an e-mail: “Regarding the rumor, I am telling inquiring reporters the truth: My wife and I have an appointment with our financial advisor next week. She is self-employed and does not have health care insurance so we would need to be very careful about any decisions."
Callinan, 62, has been Cincy's top editor eight years; his first GCI job was in 1975, at Minnesota's
St. Cloud Times.
 |
| Green |
CityBeat, meanwhile, asked Executive Editor
Rick Green of
The Desert Sun in Palm Springs, Calif., about rumors he might succeed Callinan: “What I do know,'' Green said, "is that the past six-and-a-half years here in Palm Springs have been a tremendous chapter in my life, professionally and personally. As much as I loved Cincinnati and the
Enquirer staff during my 15 years there, coming out West has been the best move of my career. Frankly, it would be incredibly hard for me at this time to leave my team and the opportunities at hand here in Palm Springs to return to Cincinnati — even if there was a vacancy.”
Two editors with Ohio ties
Green has been a rising editorial star: He was
one of three top winners of President's Rings in May. And that was the first time he'd snared one of the newspaper division's top honors. Also, as a former
Enquirer editor, he has Ohio connections.
 |
| Washburn |
Another star editor with deep ties to Ohio is
Carolyn Washburn, now executive editor at
The Des Moines Register; she grew up in a rural area west of Cincinnati. Under her, the Iowa paper
won a Pulitzer Prize for photography this year. As well, Washburn became a five-time ring winner in May, garnering her a coveted Chairman's Ring.
I worked with Washburn at
The Idaho Statesman during the mid-1990s, when she was that paper's managing editor and I was projects editor. When I've been asked in the past about a possible vacancy in Cincinnati, I said I'd recalled Washburn expressing an interest in one day leading the
Enquirer. I have not spoken to her in many years, however, so do not know her current plans. She's made one appearance here on
Gannett Blog, when
she posted this comment.
Circulation compared
- Cincinnati: M-F, 157,574; Sunday, 255,037
- Des Moines: M-F, 109,095; Sunday, 205,662
- Palm Springs: M-F, 34,419; Sunday, 40,893
Earlier: In a Cincinnati riddle, when is a rumor not a rumor?
Related: Ex-publisher Keating would accept $1.3 million to settle suit; his
$50,000 monthly expenses
I am with Green on this one. Palm Springs is an absolutely wonderful place to live and raise a family. From what I hear, the staff is happy with him. So why screw with something that is working?
ReplyDeleteHard to enjoy Buckeye mania in the California desert.
ReplyDeleteBeryl Love, Beryl Love, Beryl Love
ReplyDeleteAt least Love would know what he’d be getting into anyone else better do their due diligence carefully as it’s not for faint-hearted individuals.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing Tom put up with some of the hijinks this far. His comment about being careful in next steps may be just that, or telling of what he's been thinking.
ReplyDeleteNo way to tell how long he has just been toeing the line. He'd do the industry a favor, if he shared how he really felt about everything that is happening and what he thinks the company and newspapers need to do to succeed.
Why would Washburn leave Des Moines when it is being set up as the next Gannett hotspot? The hub will be there. Presidential politics offers another shot at a Pulitzer. Innovations galore likely will catch wind as economy picks up. If she goes to Ohio, she'll have to spend so much time revamping. She'll be starting over at a time when she is about to drive the jumbo jet.
ReplyDelete11/18/ 4:52 The reason they will screw with them is they are "Happy" no one can be happy if so leave.
ReplyDeleteGreen is an Ohio boy. Born and raised, went to college there, his family is there, his wife's family is near, his friends are there, his daughter just did a college visit to Ohio State, etc. It is his dream job, despite his coyness.
ReplyDeleteMaybe so, 7:48.
ReplyDeleteLove and his wife have family there too. From my sources, the wife makes it clear she wants to go home to Cincinnati, and soon. Don't count him out. Ring or no ring. Love and his work and efforts have been speaking for themselves and noticed by many.
Truth is: Cincinnati's publisher is the weak link.
ReplyDelete7:21 p.m. makes excellent observations about Washburn. Questions:
ReplyDeleteMaybe she wants a new challenge? Or feels an especially strong hometown pull? Which publisher has the brightest future: Hollingsworth in Des Moines, or Buchanan in Cincy? (To that last question, consider the domino effect should Gracia Martore become CEO.)
5:16, 6:40 and 8 p.m.: I haven't forgotten Beryl Love either. He's at least as strong a candidate as Washburn.
ReplyDeleteLove also has strong Ohio and Enquirer connections. Among them, he's a former Enquirer news editor, and a graduate of the University of Cincinnati.
Yes, but Love is Love. Believe me, his reputation in Cincinnati is not that great, and certainly, throughout Gannett, Green is thought of in a higher manner, even though he'd stab his brother in the back to get ahead.
ReplyDeleteDark horse is the 20+ year EE at a Top 20 Gannett paper with Cincinnati ties.
ReplyDeleteJim - there are other editors in Gannettland who have Cincy backgrounds.....do some more digging
ReplyDeleteWe're talking some serious dregs here. Green is a fire-breathing news monster, but Buchanan has destroyed the Enquirer and Love's legacy, Cin Weekly, was a total bust. How do people like them keep rising above their competency levels?
ReplyDeleteTom doesn't need to worry about health care. The Enquirer strongly endorsed the Republican "Pledge to America," so I'm sure he took that into account when pondering his own future.
ReplyDeleteThe Enquirer is such a mess, I don't think anyone wants it. Not even the monopoly position can save the paper at this point. It's been a thousand fatal cuts by consultants, who are the ones who really run this paper. Academics need to study what happened here because it is a classic.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure there are other candidates with Ohio backgrounds. We're focusing here on the more likely ones.
ReplyDeleteSave the Enquirer! Fire Buchanan.
ReplyDeleteoh, let's just wait until the sun goes down, callinan starts drinking and starts tweeting. he'll spill it all after he throws back a few
ReplyDeleteWhile very bright, Buchanan’s limited EQ and its often debilitating outcomes are core to Cincinnati’s problems. Anyone offered Callinan’s position (buzz is she wants Washburn) would be wise to dig more before deciding as suffice to say, no amount of monthly ice cream celebrations or image makeover attempts will ever really erase, nor undo what it does.
ReplyDeleteWhat a selfish thing for him to say. If health insurance and money are the only two things holding him back, he should leave right now. His heart is obviously not into the job.
ReplyDeleteIt's hardly selfish. I know many GCI employees who are going to work only for the money and health benefits. You have got to take care of your families.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDelete4:06 blame the publisher for sucking away The Enquirer employee's will to live.
ReplyDeleteI worked in Cincinnati with Green and Love and both are really great guys and strong journalists in their own ways. They're good friends, too. I followed Rick out West to Palm Springs and will tell you this: He became a much stronger editor and led a staff (that is much smaller than The Enquirer) in doing some amazing, award-winning work. He's a true news hound who cares passionately about his team. The publishers in the desert have loved him...which is perhaps a reason he's being so reserved about the possibility of returning to his native Ohio. (Which he loves, by the way.) If he leaves, it would be a huge loss for Palm Springs.
ReplyDeleteBuchanan has no use for principled newspeople. She has shown her colors over and over by putting the Enquirer in bed with business interests (partnerships with Fifth Third bank and Christ Hospital, fawning coverage of local corporations and business activity, letting subjects of stories edit them before going to print, etc.). Unlike publishers who recognize their newsrooms as the heart and soul of the organization, Buchanan never stoops to drop in on the newsroom to chat with the editors, reporters and photographers who are the true links to the community. She prefers the role of absolute puppetmaster and protector of profit margins. Anyone considering taking the top editor job will weigh very heavily taking what, on its face, would seem to be a prestigious job in return for becoming Buchanan's highest-price whore.
ReplyDeleteLarry Beaupre and Ward Bushee were ten times the editors as well as human beings that Callanan was. He never stood up for anyone including himself.
ReplyDeleteCarolyn Washburn? The "school marm, the "Nurse Ratched" of the last Presidential debates? Even editors that previously conducted the Register-sponsored debates tuned out in disgust. '
ReplyDeleteThis is a person who gutted the newsroom, and with it lost the voices that spoke to people in the community. Even now reporters and online techs are leaving in such numbers that they cannot afford to lay anyone off.
As for innovation, one local TV station gets more traffic on their website than does the Register. That is something unheard of in virtually any metropolitan area. When the economy picks up you will see more people head for the exits. Innovations? what innovations? the cookie-cutter website that no one can navigate?
I dare say that Gannett would be pleased to see Ms. Washburn take the stage again during the next Iowa Caucuses.
Maybe soon The Desert Sun can go after the story about the buried gas station tanks. They were buried behind a convienience store in Palm Springs (which is kind of illegal).
ReplyDeleteRick Green was told of this but he squashed the story and never investigated because it wasn't his idea.
Good luck Cincy.
@11:17, I call bullshit on this. It's simply not possible: "As for innovation, one local TV station gets more traffic on their website than does the Register."
ReplyDeleteShow us the numbers. And I have the Register numbers, so I'll know if you're correct.