Thursday, April 12, 2012

Buzzwords alert: Gannett creates new office of strategic initiatives and coordination of cross-functional teams for delivery of key priorities

Writing that headline made me dizzy.

Corporate has just announced that it has promoted a Gannett Digital executive to the newly created Program Management Office.

With the title of vice president of strategy, Saira Stahl will support (this is word-for-word from Corporate's news release) "the company's strategic initiatives and coordinate cross-functional teams as they deliver on key priorities identified by the Gannett Leadership Team."

(Corporate politics junkies take note: The Gannett Leadership Team is the new name for the old 12-member Gannett Management Committee, even though Corporate's website still uses the old name.)

Stahl currently is the vice president of operations and communications at Gannett Digital. In her new role, she'll report to CEO Gracia Martore.

Martore, rather improbably, is quoted as actually having uttered: "This is an exciting time for Gannett, as we leverage our many competitive advantages to deliver best-in-class content and services across an integrated, multi-platform portfolio. Saira's demonstrated ability to work across divisions makes her an excellent selection for this position. Working closely with Gannett's top leaders, Saira will play an important role with the oversight and management of our transformation efforts during this critical time."

Earlier: Your 21st century HR function is now a business partner and consultant to our senior leaders.

[Image: cover of The Buzzwords Dictionary]

31 comments:

  1. Who writes this stuff? If it is anyone with a journalism degree: Shame on you.

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  2. Bingo! What do I win?

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  3. A division of the Derek Zoolander Center For Kids Who Can't Read Good And Wanna Learn To Do Other Stuff Good Too.

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  4. ANOTHER WOMAN....Gracia is getting closer to the 70% metric of woman dominated executives.

    Saira used to work for recently fired Josh Resnik.

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  5. I guess this title sounds better than vice president for Grasping for a Clue.

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    Replies
    1. Jesus. who writes these breathless, nonsensical releases?

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  6. The Gannett Leadership team lacks true leaders and actual journalists. Gracia, please give us more than exaggerated cheerleading and hollow promises.

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  7. I've been gone for more than 15 months and it actually disturbs me that I can still easily read these sentences and even understand them : (

    I like the grasping for a clue title....

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  8. I refer to it as "Special High Intensity Training"-otherwise known as S.H.I.T.

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  9. Translation: You gonna get furloughed / bought out / laid off.

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  10. Jesus Christ, how many direct reports does Gracia have?

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  11. So who's teeing up to replace her?

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  12. Another VP who will disappear into Gannett chaos within 2 months never to be heard from. Speaking of that - has anyone heard from Sandra Micek lately?

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  13. Seems like a smart person based on her linkedin profile. but really, is this job -needed?

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  14. They really talk this way. Even in meetings – out loud
    - Former Gannett Exec

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  15. Can someone name the last good idea this clown show came up with? What would the ratio be 10 good ideas to 1 idea that doesnt totally suck.

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  16. What? No "going forward" phrase?

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  17. Where the hell is "Transformation"? I've worked the last 15 years under transformation, it's tradition!

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  18. Vice President of Strategy??? WTF!
    I just want some people to help me run a press.

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  19. Look at it from a GRANULAR level. Then, IDEATE. Then get it punched up an into a DECK, before COB.

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  20. Buzzwords, eh? Boy, this company, including the flagship across the marble-floored foyer, are just in a death spiral with this same old junk they pedal.

    Here's some buzzwords: Layoffs, furloughs, deceit, greed. That's what Gannett/USA Today are all about since 2008 - maybe earlier. A heartless company that sticks it too loyal employees won't last regardless of how many buzzwords come out of the corporate offices.

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  21. Best post and comments in a long time. Thanks for the laughs.

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  22. (Cue dramatic music)And this on a day when my site bid farewell to five long-time employees taking buyouts. Forget the vice-president of yadda-yadda-yadda, we just want an editoral page editor, a features editor and a photo editor.

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  23. About the terminology:
    The Gannett Management Committee (GMC) OR Operating Group (OG) has only 12 people

    The Leadership Team is a bigger group of top execs who support various functions across the company

    These two terms and groups should not be confused. The GMC or OG is the group that runs the company at the highest levels.

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  24. You can't make this stuff up. Sooo glad I left when I did.

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  25. So we have the crew from McHale's Navy on one team and Eight is Enough on another. The sheer intellectual heft and business acumen is breath taking.

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  26. Gracia is Old Led bottom and Hunke is Ensign Parker.

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  27. I thought hunke was Dorf. As in the Dorf the Golfer.

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  28. Misplaced comma in the first graph of that press release.
    Fourth graph completely repetitive.

    When a communications company can't even articulate a promotion clearly and concisely, what does this say about the rest of the operation?

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  29. 4:12 says, These two terms and groups should not be confused.

    Ha. I bet they are confused. ...

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Jim says: "Proceed with caution; this is a free-for-all comment zone. I try to correct or clarify incorrect information. But I can't catch everything. Please keep your posts focused on Gannett and media-related subjects. Note that I occasionally review comments in advance, to reject inappropriate ones. And I ignore hostile posters, and recommend you do, too."

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