Worried The Clarion-Ledger has lost touch with Jackson, Miss., Publisher Leslie Hurst established 10 strategic goals for her staff. Among them:
"Reconnect with our readers, advertisers and our communities, demonstrating that we haven't lost our community heart."
Indeed, only last week, Hurst directed her employees -- shaken by a new round of layoffs -- to seek consolation in a re-reading of those goals.
Her admonition to reconnect isn't new, of course. In December, when Corporate promoted her from Lafayette, La., she told the Jackson daily: "We need to know the people we serve and understand what is on their minds."
Yet, Hurst didn't arrive with a reputation for community outreach. "On one of her first days in Lafayette," a former employee there told The Independent Weekly, "she told us that she would not speak to the public, would not answer e-mails, and if called would not pick up the phone. She also will not answer voice mails."
Hurst has passed through a lot of communities. She's been president and publisher of seven Gannett newspapers -- two simultaneously -- in just 14 years. The cities and years she was appointed:
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| Hurst |
Her admonition to reconnect isn't new, of course. In December, when Corporate promoted her from Lafayette, La., she told the Jackson daily: "We need to know the people we serve and understand what is on their minds."
Yet, Hurst didn't arrive with a reputation for community outreach. "On one of her first days in Lafayette," a former employee there told The Independent Weekly, "she told us that she would not speak to the public, would not answer e-mails, and if called would not pick up the phone. She also will not answer voice mails."
Hurst has passed through a lot of communities. She's been president and publisher of seven Gannett newspapers -- two simultaneously -- in just 14 years. The cities and years she was appointed:
- 1996: Hattiesburg American in Mississippi
- 2000: The Herald-Dispatch, Huntington, W. Va.
- 2003: The Idaho Statesman, Boise
- 2005: Lansing State Journal in Michigan
- 2007: Daily Advertiser in Lafayette, and the Daily World in Opelousas, La.
- 2010: Jackson
I'm of two minds on this. On the one hand, it's that imperious, "unreachable people in a corporate tower somewhere" mentality that really damaged the credibility and connectivity of many local and regional newspapers, starting in the mid-90s. On the other, why would a publisher really need to interface with the public? The reporters and editors should be doing that - the publisher should be setting macro-level leadership and guidance and making sure things are running the way they should.
ReplyDeleteAll that said, Gannett is renowned for shuffling publishers in and out of newspapers who know nothing about the area in which they've landed and don't really give a shit either. Hollis Towns at the APP is a classic example.
Aren't publishers supposed to be the newspaper's public face in all parts of the community? Aren't they supposed to help close major advertising sales contracts by meeting with prospects?
ReplyDeleteAlso, note: Towns is executive editor at the Asbury Park Press, but not its publisher.
Sorry, 8:18, the publisher of a newspaper should be one of the most recognizable faces in the community, more so in smaller markets. It comes with the job. Hurst should have taken a job as a Wal-Mart or Jiffy Lube store manager. Then she could have climbed her way up bigger and bigger stores in different markets without having to deal with nuisances like public interaction or journalistic ethics. With its revolving-door system of grooming managers, Gannett promotes the disconnect between publishers and communities. Oh, sure, its publishers take a turn as chamber president and United Way campaign chair, but the locals know that they're professional ladder-climbers and not worth any real intimacy. Towns serves as a good example of how this plays out on the editorial side. He and his wife want to get back home to Georgia in a bad way. He doesn't give a damn about New Jersey.
ReplyDeleteSeven publishing jobs in 14 years? I don't get it. Even by Gannett standards, this shuffling is a bit much. I hope she is not being groomed for corporate. Although her ridiculous mission statement is perfect for the managerial b.s. spouted at thave Crystal Palace. How president's rings does she have?
ReplyDeleteHurst is a heartless right-wingnut who imposes her crazy views on newspaper editorials whereever she goes. No surprise to find a publisher is a Republican, but she's right of Atilla the Hun and not afraid of telling people that. That's why even business leaders shun her company, and you can easily guess their political views.
ReplyDeleteThis person needs to be criticized. I was going to send her a nasty e-mail, but I doubt she would read it.
ReplyDeleteGood job, Jim. I still think you are an idiot, as are others here. But this type of person should be blasted.
Any other manager in the corporate world would have up-and-moved-on after assignments in such backwaters as Hattiesburg, Huntington and Lafayette. If she doesn't get it that the company doesn't think much of her, Gannett should cut her loose. If my career was as undistinguished as hers, I would have gone into another field.
ReplyDeleteI don't mind publishers being criticized (it comes with the territory), but here and in another thread the accusations being made against Hurst seem wildly over the top.
ReplyDeleteIf indeed she refuses to talk to readers and has said so loudly, she should be fired. But I have a hard time believing she'd say so publicly.
How about sticking to the facts and not go on absurd tirades against people/
4:19 Jackson clearly was a step up, and so a positive message.
ReplyDeleteYeah, she got her hands slapped a little and sent to Lafayette, LA to pay for her misteps in Lansing (overruled editorial board on a political endorsement). http://www.michiganliberal.com/diary/7344/
ReplyDeleteApparently she redeemed herself in Lafayette by being the hatchet publisher so Gannett moved her to Jackson, MS -- a bigger and better market. It's true that she is paranoid and has very little interaction with employees or the public.
Soon after she landed in Jackson, GCI summoned Ms. Hurst in private plane to the Crystal Palace, where she was told to play nice in Jackson. Or else ...
ReplyDeleteBill Hunsberger is the best publisher The Clarion-Ledger ever had; he truly and sincerely was connected to Metro Jackson on all levels. The Community Room at The Clarion-Ledger is named in his honor.
Of those that followed after Bill's untimely death, only John Newhouse was active inside and outside the newspaper. John inexplicably was dismissed by Barbara Henry / Denise Ivey for unknown reasons.
The fact that Margaret Buchanan continued to rack up Gannett plaudits for her work in Cincinnati tells you all you need to know about what Gannett values in a publisher.
I agree with 6:55 p.m. Bill Hunsberger was the best publisher The Clarion-Ledger had known and he was a huge part of the community; both in business and personal. NO other publisher at that paper had or has come close to Bill Hunsberger.
ReplyDeleteOn another note, Hurst is more than a publisher. She is corporate. Her title is Vice President of Gannett's South Group.
Wasn't hurst kept with Gannett when Statesman was sold to Knight Ridder?
ReplyDeleteYes Leslie was sent to Lansing when the Statesman was sold in 2005.
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ReplyDeleteShe's in Jackson, Mississippi, for God's sake. One of the poorest, least educated, least interesting states in the nation. It might represent an "upgrade" from Lafayette, La., but can best be likened to a transfer from the rat-infested wing of the penitentiary to one infested only by roaches. Anyone with any talent and potential would refuse assignment to Gannett's dreary outposts.
ReplyDelete12:45 Yes, you are right, and that job was earmarked for Don Hudson, who was the capable and liked managing editor of the Clarion-Journal for a decade until he was laid off in 2009. The next year, Hurst is named to head the Courier-Journal. BTW, Hudson was black and Hurst is white, and Gannett insists _ repeatedly _ that it doesn't discriminate in hiring and firing policies. Coincidence? I don't think so.
ReplyDeleteThe true irony here is that Hurst's predecessor, Bill Hunsberger, was so well thought of because he worked his way up from circulation -- where contact with and responsiveness to customers is all-important. He might disagree with you, but he would at least give you the courtesy of listening. That basic decency served him well.
ReplyDeleteAlso: I lived and worked in both Jackson and Hattiesburg, and they were among my favorite locales during a career that had me living a half-dozen other places. Only the most narrow-minded person who's never visited would conclude otherwise.
12:45 PM Mississippi the state might be poor, but Jackson has plenty of wealthy and upscale hotspots. Mississippi is the home/birthplace of many musical and literary greats so it must have something going for it.
ReplyDeleteAnd the Clarion-Ledger building is VERY nice by Gannett standards. Looks like an upscale hotel with marble, revolving doors, mahogany, high ceiling, and such. Not a bad gig at all in the land of Gannett. Just make sure you stay within your "boundaries."
"Mississippi is the home/birthplace of many musical and literary greats so it must have something going for it."
ReplyDeleteThis could be one of the dumbest things posted here in some time. So no musical or literary great has ever overcome poverty?
5:24 PM Wasn't addressing poverty. Was addressing the part about Mississippi being the least educated, least interesting state in the nation. "With so many musical and literary greats it must have something going for it."
ReplyDeleteThey were educated there and they were inspired there.
But glad to see you can jump to dumb.
Your logic is lacking, 6:19. Your claim does not change the fact that Mississippi is one of the poorest and most uneducated states. Interesting is subjective, but the other qualities have facts behind them
ReplyDeleteYou lose. Thanks for playing, though.
To everyone in Jackson, if you work for Hurst, you should unify, go to her office, and tell her to take her 10 goals and put it where the sun don't shine.
ReplyDeleteAfter all, she's only going to be there for two years anyways. Those goals will go kaput when the next publisher comes in. So why bother wasting the time to implement them? To keep your job? Heck, as we've all seen on here, it doesn't matter how good or bad you are. They'll lay you off anyways.
6:31 PM Your ignorance is showing. Again, never disputed that Mississippi is one of the poorest and most uneducated states. But there are lots of people living there who aren't poor and uneducated so you are throwing them all into one basket. That's not logical. I am sure you've never even been to Mississippi or Jackson. The Jackson metro area is predominantly not poor and uneducated. And some of those that were poor and uneducated still had the talent and wherewithall to make a success of their life. Yeah, you're the winner alright. Whatever.
ReplyDeleteGive it up, 8:38. The original poster at 12:45 had it right.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I have been to the state. It didn't strike me as particularly good or bad.
But, again, the numbers show it's one of the poorest and most poorly educated states. Read the numbers and move on.
I've worked for some poor managers in my day but I would consider her a WOW publisher. (Worst of the Worst) I will say she is fantastic at cutting people up and cutting people loose. She once started off a budget meeting by trying to figure out how many years it was going to take me to run the paper out of business.
ReplyDelete3:30, that's how she operates. Once she's got it out for you, beware. She will stop at nothing until she gets her way. The amazing thing is, people at corporate buy her bullshit, even with her reputation. It is mind boggling.
ReplyDeleteWorked for her for eight of the most god-awful months of my life. She's as charming as a rattlesnake and equally trust-worthy. "Worst of the Worst" is an understatement. By far the poorest communicator I've ever encountered in a top-level job. Her 3 a.m. email rants were notorious. Sadly, she's a perfect fit for the on-going Gannett strategy of cut, consolidate, run scared, sell your soul, give burnt offerings in the form of human beings to the gods of a soulless, aimless corporation.
ReplyDeleteIf she's not the devil, I don't know who is....
ReplyDelete