"What's next? Bob Collins and Sue Clark-Johnson forming a charm school partnership?"
-- Anonymous@4:35, commenting on former USA Today Publisher Craig Moon's plans to buy and operate four small North Carolina weekly newspapers with his business partner, former Gannett advertising executive Don Stinson.
[Image: Mo'Nique, headmistress of VH1's Charm School reality show]
Very very funny!! haha....and don't forget the Headmaster of that school, GLW! NObody could charm'em like ole Gar. Actually, I give Moon credit, at least he's trying to prove he can make something out of his talents. I always wondered why if Sue really believed all the BS she spewed why she didn't try and stay in the business. Instead she cashed out on top and left everyone else in their misery she helped create. Merry Christmas Sue and Gary.
ReplyDeleteThey just won't go away and quietly enjoy their retirement and money. SC-J is still raking it in and has two houses. http://morrisoninstitute.asu.edu/researchers-and-staff/susan-clark-johnson
ReplyDeleteDon Stinson? You've got to be kidding. God save the people that work for them. Stinson's "How to be a salesman" stories are circa 1957 high pressure door-to-door sales - they were outdated when he was traveling Gannettland in the late 90s. unbelieveable! This stuff is better than fiction. You couldn't even come up with a better antique dream-team ad sales blast from the past. These two are the gift that keeps on giving - Donald M (Don) Stinson and Craig Moon. What a combo. Hysterical! Remember when Don Stinson was VP/Advertising for Corporate and he traveled around preaching his high-pressure sales gospel of how to sell advertising better? Now it will be fun to see if he can produce what he so long preached! Bravo Don Stinson. Having worked with Don Stinson, years later I can say with certainty: "Don, you make us all so very proud! Lead on. Show us the way."
ReplyDeleteFor those who may not remember: Don Stinson is the former chain-smoking, fast talking, self-promoting Gannett newspaper division Advertising VP who formerly worked for Craig Moon in Nashville in advertising sales prior to his role at Corporate's newspaper ad sales department. Stinson traveled to Gannett newspaper ad departments tirelessly, promoting his outdated ideas he called "value selling," stale tales even 20 years ago. Stinson and Moon were worked together years ago in Nashville. Don Stinson abruptly departed his corporate role as Gannett's newspaper division head of advertising sales shortly after Sue Clark Jackson-Johnson was named president of the newspaper division. He was reassigned to the New York Gannett (GNNS) ad sales office for some "special projects" when Sue became president of Gannett's newspaper division. Stinson's claim to fame that he often told people was that he was a college intern in the Nixon White House. He left out the specific mention of his position as intern in his auto-bio, proudly stating over and again that he was "in the Nixon White House."
ReplyDeleteDon Stinson and Bob Dickey Gannett have something in common... They were both former advertising director's at the Palm Springs California newspaper The Desert Sun.
ReplyDeleteSCJ seems to get off easy here. So what's the truth? What was she like?
ReplyDeleteI met her once, but only briefly. She seemed robotic and, what -- four feet tall?
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, Sue Clark Johnson (Jackson) had amazing timing. Sue Clark Johnson was all about herself - arrogant, controversial. She married one of her direct reports, Brooks Johnson who was publisher of the San Bernardino Sun, formerly a Gannett newspaper, WHILE she was the group president presiding over the West Region and WHILE the newspaper (and I believe Johnson) was reporting to her (for many years after the marriage this reporting relationship continued). Eventually, her husband was re-assigned to an esoteric corporate job to shuffle paper managing Gannett's "mastheads" or namebrands and this position allowed Mr Johnson to continue to reside in the west region. Sue Clark Johnson was formerly Sue Clark Jackson until she married Mr Johnson who was at the time President/Publisher of the then-Gannett-owned San Bernardino paper. Later, when Dubow & Co discovered the burried treasure of the fancy job created to eliminate the direct reporting /relationship conflict of interest Sue Jackson and Brooks Johnson, SCJ reportedly left in a huff her position as President of UCP. Sue was well-known for playing and promoting favorites - you were either part of her "in" popular group or the outcast"out" group. Sound familiar? She played by and created her own rules. Even though she preached diversity, among some she had gained a reputation as not being supportive of other women who she may have viewed as being threatening or potential competitors. Sue was also fortunate to rise through the Gannett ranks in times of great growth in the 80s and 90s and early 2000's as head of Gannett's most prosperous region, riding a wave of growth in the booming West Region, including Phoenix in its glory days when it was expanding rapidly. In my opinion, Sue Clark Johnson's
ReplyDeletebest quality and legacy will be her amazing timing. Many liked her. Many disliked her. She seemed to be in the right places at the right times and stayed the course on a mighty and long wave.
...and they didn't call SCJ the Wicked Witch of the West for nothing.
ReplyDeleteI was one she dispised. She'd hug me upon arrival and disparage me later. The diversity label was smoke and mirrors. She talked a good game but she positioned few people of color in senior positions and was very "selective" in appointing women to senior positions.
ReplyDeleteI like my publisher just fine but if he hugged me, I'd pinch his butt in return just to make sure it didn't happen again.
ReplyDeleteSome of the best and brightest people in Gannett at highest levels LEFT Gannett because of Sue Clark Johnson's inequitable treatment. Unfortunate. Some are still here. She created a promotable path for and mentored Bob Dickey for 20 years. He was an ad sales manager under her in Reno.
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