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| Callinan |
"There hasn't yet been an official announcement or a press release. Wags say that's why there's been nothing in the newspaper Tom Callinan edits -- without handouts the Enquirer is lost. But University of Cincinnati insiders tell The Daily Bellwether that Tom Callinan has already accepted a job in the school's Journalism Department and will start teaching winter quarter. Callinan will have the title McMicken professor of journalism. The insiders said Callinan will give up the editorship to become a full-time academic."
Callinan, in an e-mail to me, wrote: "The blog you reference seems to infer that this is a full-time position. It is a 3-credit adjunct faculty job, one evening class a week. Over the years I have done similar work with The University of South Dakota, Michigan State and Arizona State while the editor in those places."
He adds: "Any decision about leaving The Enquirer is a separate issue."
Possible successors?
Speculation making the rounds today is that an announcement could come very soon.
In a Gannett Blog post Thursday, three names surfaced as possible successors, should Callinan leave. They are the top editors at three GCI dailies, and all of strong Ohio connections: Rick Green of The Desert Sun in Palm Springs, Calif.; Beryl Love of the Reno Gazette Journal, and Carolyn Washburn of The Des Moines Register.
Last week, Callinan and Green addressed the issue with Cincinnati alternative weekly CityBeat.
Callinan said: “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."
Green, an Enquirer editor before the Sun, said: "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."
The papers' circulation:
- 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
The Enquirer is now at death's door and I pity anyone who takes over the traces at this point. It should not be this way because Cincinnatti is a prosperous city with a solid middle class, and home to more corporate headquarters than cities like Los Angeles or Denver. There is a lot of quiet wealth here.
ReplyDeleteBut the paper is a tired and worn-out version of its former self, despised by many once-faithful readers and clearly on life support. It has been such a traumatic downhill slide that I don't know if anyone can save it.
Interestingly enough...Buchanan sits on UC's board. Another board she sits on, Ohio Newspaper Association, just hired a top Enquirer last month.
ReplyDeleteCallinan has been able to moonlight over the years because he never puts in a 40-hour week. He shuffles in before 10 and leaves by 5. Happy Hour is where you can most dependably find him.
ReplyDeleteWhat makes anyone think anything will change even if Callinan is replaced?
ReplyDeleteAnother one bailing out on a sinking ship.
ReplyDeleteIn after 10, out before 5? Rick Green would be a major change from that. He's in at 8, out at 7, in on weekends, demands PDFs of A1 every night. Obsessed? Maybe, but he's definitely tapped in.
ReplyDeleteLet's hope, for their sake, that the pub and Sales Director have their act together, or he'll try to do more than he really knows how to out of desperation. He shines with journalism, but overenthusiastic and underskilled at the sales experiments he's been trying in PS. EE is the best move for him, he isn't ready to become publisher yet. He loves Ohio, so a return would come with welcome arms from his family.
1:38 you are soooo wrong. Prediction; he will be a pub within 6 months not an editor. Loser buys lunch at the Blue Coyote
ReplyDelete8:32 I'm not saying he WON'T become pub, he just shouldn't. TDS has had no real leadership in a long time, so he's had nothing to learn from & he was to busy in Cincinnati to get involved with how to run a paper. If he becomes pub, he WILL crash & burn. Enthusiasm does not equal capability. If he becomes EE at a big metro, he'll extend his career through retirement.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Blue Coyote? Ha! You have the wrong guy. They guy survives off Del Taco & Edit Board lunches.
1:54 you mean well but the boy is ready. I will have the carnitas!
ReplyDeleteThere will be a big party in the newsroom in P.S. if Green leaves. Cincinnati deserves him. Go back home, farmboy.
ReplyDelete6:07 guys/gals like you have absolutely no future in this or any other business. You don't possess the skills to lead a team so you tear down those that do. I would follow Green anywhere anytime. You on the other hand should go home and watch Star Trek on your Mom's TV
ReplyDeleteFolks need to calm down and realize there is truly no competition for this job. It is Carolyn Washburn's if she wants it. She is from the Cincinnati market, always has aspired to return to her roots and worked with Margaret Buchanan back in Boise. They have an incredibly close relationship, and Carolyn is going to know how to navigate Margaret's moods and her obvious involvement in the Newsroom. I am not confident that 312 Elm Street will respond favorably to Carolyn's style, and I'm not certain Carolyn is going to be comfortable with the slim resources that Callinan is leaving behind for her. But this has been a three-way conversation for months between Callinan-Carolyn-Margaret. If she decides not to pursue and return to Ohio, THEN it becomes a derby among Love, Green and many others, I'm sure. But realistically -- start preparing her parking spot.
ReplyDeleteI've worked in Palm Springs for a long time, and I've seen a parade of editors during my tenure. Randy Lovely was great, but he wasn't here very long. Steve silberman was a nice guy, but he wasn't a great editor and he was here far too long. Rick Green came in back in 2004 as managing editor and it was clear to me and most of us (who were here and still remain) that he was going to be our EE. I really hope he doesn't get the job in Cincinnati or anywhere else. I've loved working for him and with him. He knows news better tahn any editor with whom I've worked, and he's really plugged into the community. No editor is perfect, but Rick understands good journalism and knows how to get a staff to rally around the big story. And even when we've had to deal with this suck-ass economy, Rick has still pushed and cajoled and led us to new heights. He's also tireless. I don't know who said it earlier, but he's got an incredible work ethic and the brains to match. He's earned a promotion, but selfishly, I'm hoping he doesn't return to Ohio.
ReplyDeleteYikes, 11:26. I forgot that Washburn and Buchanan had worked together before, in Boise. That's a good point.
ReplyDeleteWhat? No one thinks Hollis Towns will make a return?
ReplyDeleteRandy Lovely's spent more time in Palm Springs since he got the AzRep job than before. He's on a plane out of Phx every Thursday afternoon.
ReplyDeleteHollis Towns will settle for nothing less than a top job at corporate.
ReplyDelete@11:33: How nice of you to stop by, Rick.
ReplyDelete11:33: Nice post, Rick. Ha ha
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