[Photos to hate: a blistering Feb. 6 cover story]
"If I were a guy, would I have had the pounding that I did? And the worst pictures!"
-- Cathie Black, the just-ousted head of New York City's public schools, in an interview today with Fortune's Patrica Sellers. Black was USA Today's president and then publisher for eight crucial years starting in 1983. "I'm a warrior," Black, 66, told Sellers, and she's ready to move on. "Different options to consider. I'm not in a rush."
And once more: No, I cannot imagine her being lured back to USA Today -- even if she were asked.
ReplyDeleteTo answer her question: yes, you would have received a pounding if you were a wealthy male retiree who had no background in education, sent your own children to private school, and lacked sufficient people skills to realize you couldn't approach this job like Jesus coming to evict the money lenders from the temple.
ReplyDeleteP.S. She's the last thing we need. What does she know about technology other than her cell phone?
Maybe it had something to do with her lack of credentials, her near-total ignorance of the public school system, and her astoundingly poor public relations skills.
ReplyDeleteCathie was brought to USAT by Al because he wanted someone who knew the NY ad agency scene and she was a very talented magazine executive. Didn't hurt that she was a pretty blonde.
ReplyDeleteThe Curley brothers squeezed her out (maybe because she would not put out for them) and she parachuted to NAA. Hearst brought her in to run their magazines and she did very, very well there.
The NYC schools job was not the right move for her, obviously, but let's not trash her because she could not survive an incredibly vicious political scene there. It should be more of a black eye for Bloomberg, who didn't really prepare the city or Cathie for the move.
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ReplyDeletesorry but aren't these comments about her a bit out of line?
ReplyDeleteComments about Black's qualifications for this position are completely on topic. I agree she did an amazing job connecting USAT to Madison Avenue and she essentially did the same for Hearst. It was hubris, hers and Bloomberg's that led them to believe experience and credentials weren't necessary to lead and manage the largest public school system in the country. Black failed because she wasn't qualified, period.
ReplyDeleteShe looks like a man. She would fit in perfectly in the GMC!
ReplyDeleteAgree that some of these comments are inappropriate.
ReplyDeletePu-lease, someone at that level should know when they are totally unqualified for the job. She's not smart enough to realize she'll be raked over the coals for sending her kids to private schools? Bloomberg deserves whatever comments he gets also.
ReplyDeleteBloomberg is getting a free ride on this if only because he's a Teflon mayor.
ReplyDeleteIncidentally, when word came Thursday morning that Black was getting the sack all the Big 4 network affiliates in NYC broke into their daytime shows to report the story.
I didn't realize there was still so much interest in Black within the Gannett community; this post is one of the most clicked-on over the past 24 hours.
ReplyDeleteBe afraid David L. Hunke be very afraid.
ReplyDeleteBlack will demand a big axe to send L. Jones, T. Beusse, J. Wilkes and H. Frank back to the unemployment lines where David L. Hunke found them.
5:27 No, no, no, no, no. Why would Black ever want to step back in time -- or work for Martore?
ReplyDeleteShe would not have fit GMC. Gannett always gave her a Jag..
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ReplyDeleteNote that the state educations commish, who gave Black the waiver for her lack of education credentials, also fell on his sword. Just a lesson, be careful who you pull strings for, because the next head on the block may be yours. hey with all that chutzpah, maybe Bloomie can replace Craigy.
ReplyDeleteWhy is this post on Gannett Blog? Black hasn't worked at Gannett in decades. What's next a post about some VP from 1983?
ReplyDelete5:11 So do you use click data to determine what should be emphasized, and what not?
ReplyDeleteYea. Let a man make a bizarre remark about "Sophie's Choice" to many Jewish parents. Let's see what happens to him in New York City!
ReplyDelete...
Oh, wait ....
Amusing that she would contend she was unfairly photographed. Many of us object to what we look like in photos, but unfortunately time does march on and she no longer looks like she once looked.
ReplyDeleteNo disrespect, but she looks like Eve Arden from the old sitcom "The Mothers-in-laws"
ReplyDeleteThe resemblance is amazing!
Has she ever tried acting?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-i9xCOUqxq8
Jim:
ReplyDeleteIn response to your post on 4/9 @ 5:11pm: could this thread be getting so much attention because those who have been on the receiving end of Gannett's "generosity" over the years want to see Gannett Leadership (regardless if it's Neuharth, Black, Curley, McCorkindale or the current regime)... just... fail? People wronged are eager to see anyone in a leadership position (usually very arrogant people) get their comeuppance?