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| Hurst |
"I think it's really important to connect with the people in the community and connect internally with employees. I like to think of The Clarion-Ledger not as an institution, but more as a conduit for things that are going on in this community."
"We need to know the people we serve and understand what is on their minds. Do we know what people go to bed worrying about? Do we know what keeps people awake at night?"
"I don't consider us just a newspaper. I think we have transformed into what we would refer to as a multimedia marketing solution for our customers. There are many ways we can help advertisers connect with their customers."
"All people have to do is look at our research to see that we have good readership numbers. People read our products, whether it's the website, the daily newspaper, our weeklies or one of our magazines such as VIP. Because of that, we're able to reach a niche audience for our advertisers. No other medium can do that.""When I come to work, I feel a real sense of respect. I literally believe that what we do is important . . . to further us as a democracy, to shed light on things that people otherwise might not know about. There is a great amount of pride in that, but also a huge sense of responsibility."
Here's today's front page, with the story about Hurst stripped across the bottom under a headline that says, "New 'C-L' publisher to 'connect' with community:"
God bless any newsroom staffer assigned to write the story about an incoming publisher or editor. I've written more than my share.
[Image: today's front page, Newseum]
Hurst asks: "Do we know what people go to bed worrying about? Do we know what keeps people awake at night?"
ReplyDeleteIf by "people,'' she means Jackson's operating committee, I think we already know the answer to Hurst's questions.
First time forever I've seen one of these stories with quotes from a person below the boss instead of one from corporate or regional VP.
ReplyDeleteWow. She must've borrowed a copy of Martore's Manual of Minimally Meaningful Corporate Verbiage.
ReplyDeleteI felt my coffee coming back up this morning as I read the Clarion-Ledger front-page article. If she's half as awesome as Agnew and others claim, she'll also reduce Jackson's crime rate and cure cancer during her stay in the metro area.
ReplyDeleteIt's going to be a ride. Make sure you check your e-mail, Jackson!
ReplyDeleteThis woman sure has bounced around Gannett!
ReplyDeleteI wonder how long she'll be at The C-L? Probably just long enough to drain out some more bucks for Dubow's and Matore's retirement accounts.
A personal question: Does this woman have a family? I can't imagine moving children around the country at such a pace unless she's totaly career crazed.
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ReplyDeleteI wonder if this was her reward for overseeing the La.-Miss ME hatchet jobs in November?
ReplyDeleteShe should have her hubby polish the Caddy and leave the employees to their newspaper jobs.
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the Clarion-Ledger Media Network! She talks a good game about caring what the community wants, but believe me, all she's there to do is downsize. She's Gannett's grim reaper. She managed to get to The Lafayette Advertiser's newsroom from a healthy 45 employees to an anemic 15 total employees in just three years. Congrats Leslie! Enjoy that President's Ring!
ReplyDeleteAnd if her past in Lafayette is any indication, she'll spend approximately 1/3 of her time in the building in Jackson and the rest of her time out jet-setting across the country.
Leslie is a nice person deep down inside, but as a publisher she's ruthless. I guess that's why Gannett likes her so much. My prediction is that Jackson's newsroom, err information center, err media network, will shrink by at least 50 percent in the next year.
Just by reputation, she does appear to be a hatchet woman. Brought in to slash and burn, then quickly move to the next project.
ReplyDeleteHow soon will be the changes begin? I don't know enough about the budget process ... will the past publisher's spending plans stay in place?
Any chance the good folks at the C-L will able to enjoy the first six months or so of 2011?
9:38 & 10:51 Are you unable to discuss Hurst without making irrelevant gender and family references?
ReplyDelete"This woman sure has bounced around Gannett"
"A personal question: Does this woman have a family?"
"She should have her hubby polish the Caddy and leave the employees to their newspaper jobs."
I don't see any gender bias in saying Hurst has "bounced around." This is her sixth publisher job in 14 years; in the past 10, she's moved an average of every two years.
ReplyDelete1996: Hattiesburg American in Mississippi
2000: The Herald-Dispatch, Huntington, W. Va.
2003: The Idaho Statesman, Boise
2005: Lansing State Journal in Michigan.
2007: The Daily Advertiser in Lafayette, La.
2010: The Clarion Ledger in Jackson, Miss.
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ReplyDeletePlease: No more comments on children of executives. They should not be drawn into a discussion about Gannett.
ReplyDeleteGood night, and good luck, Jackson.
ReplyDeleteThat front page sure shows a lot of shedding light on democracy. And that's BEFORE this person with a hatchet-woman reputation takes over. If anything, this paper will be shedding people, not light.
ReplyDeleteRonnie Agnew and Leslie Hurst used to work together in Hattiesburg and it didn't work out. Ronnie has already said in front of newsroom employees that he doesn't know if he can work with her in Jackson. That doesn't sound like he's really "excited" about having her as a publisher.
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ReplyDelete10:24 here again, and I'm a bit confused. Post after post criticizing Leslie is OK, but a post saying she's a good mother isn't? Fine to delete the post naming her children and their ages, but my first comment contained no identifying personal information. It seems to me an executive who has risen the ranks of Gannett (not easily done, especially in an era of downsizing) while juggling a family life at home should be lauded for those accomplishments.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the 10:24 post. Anyone who can maintain a family in these difficult times is to be applauded.
ReplyDeleteMoving around the country as she has certainly couldn't have been easy on her family. Then again, as we're reminded after each layoff, "Just be thankful you've still got a job!"
4:33 I'm principally interested in her specific work record and skills as a manager. Merely noting a rise through the ranks, with or without children, says relatively little -- positive or negative -- about an individual's accomplishments. Enron's Ken Lay rose through Corporate America's ranks, too.
ReplyDeleteTo expand on that just a bit: You wouldn't expect an employee to write their annual performance review, listing accomplishments around advertising sales, or circulation gains or exclusive stories -- and then add: "Plus, I did all of that while raising a family." It would be inappropriate.
ReplyDeleteFor the same reason here, it's irrelevant whether Hurst has kids or not. She's paid to be an effective publisher, not on being a good work-life juggler.
Jim,
ReplyDeleteHurst left the Idaho statesman in 2005 because Gannett sold the paper to Knight Ridder. I doubt her style would have meshed with the new owners.
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ReplyDeleteJust like Gannett to move the chronically stupid and ignorant to another position when welcome has been worn out.
ReplyDeleteLansing is still realing from this b#$*h.