Monday, April 23, 2012

Urgent: MSNBC exec to lead Corporate's P.R.

Corporate just announced that it has hired a replacement for Robin Pence, who recently left the company after serving as head of Gannett's public relations from summer 2009 until last November. From the news release:

Gannett announced today that it has named Jeremy Gaines to lead corporate communications, a key role in helping Gannett implement its strategic growth plan. Gaines will be instrumental in explaining Gannett's path forward and how its capabilities, principles, products and services create value and position the company for success in the digital age. As vice president of communications, Gaines will be responsible for leading internal and external communications programs for the entire company and will serve as communications advisor to the senior management team.

Gaines will assume his new position effective May 21. He will report to Maryam Banikarim, Gannett's senior vice president and chief marketing officer, and will be based in McLean, Va.

Gaines joins Gannett from MSNBC, where he spent 14 years in various roles and was instrumental in putting the cable news channel on the map. Most recently, he was vice president of corporate communications, overseeing internal and external communications for the network. Earlier at MSNBC, he had served as Director of Strategic Development and was responsible for enhancing its business, competitive position, and public image. Gaines also worked to assess new talent, develop new programming and create sales opportunities. Before joining MSNBC, Gaines spent five years at the White House in various media relations roles and served as assistant press secretary for the Clinton/Gore 1992 campaign.

"Gannett is staking out a leadership position in a fast-transforming industry, and we will benefit enormously from having Jeremy guide our communication efforts," said Banikarim. "He is a strategic leader and his deep experience in the industry, strong relationships with the media and ability to tell a story will be a major asset as we grow and transform Gannett. We are thrilled to have Jeremy lead the team."

"Gannett is unique in its passion for serving the community, history of innovation and determination to execute its well-defined plan to create a brighter future. This is a perfect time to be joining this great company. I am looking forward to being a part of Gannett's future success," said Gaines.

Gaines earned a bachelor of arts in Political Science from Carleton College.

37 comments:

  1. Why does "Driving Miss Daisy" and "On the Road Again" immediately come to mind?

    Because if this guy was putting MSNBC on the map, I foresee a terrible "Thelma and Louise" navigational error.

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  2. MSNBC, of course, is owned by NBCUniversal, where Banikarim worked before coming to Gannett in March 2009.

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  3. Maybe Jeremy can better explain Gannett strategy to its own bewildered employees. we dont get it.

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  4. It isnt a girl? Wow. will he at least be based on McLean where people can keep an eye on him?

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  5. Darn, I was hoping for Keith Olbermann.

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  6. Sounds like he's got good creds, but then why would he be joining Gannett?

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  7. Another Banikarim crony is the last thing Gannett needs especially one from MSNBC, an entity known more for its liberal biases than anything else.

    Why this company would want to make a hire like this given Gaines past affiliations, "no comment" mastery and this industry’s significant credibility drop with consumers is anyone’s guess, but it’s hard to believe better, more experienced candidates with less damaging baggage didn’t exist.

    Could it be that Banikarim’s self-promotional calculus shows Gaines gives her Klout score a bigger boost?

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  9. Isn't MSNBC exactly where we dumped all of our "It's All Within Reach" promo money?

    Just who is paying off whom in this scenario?

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  10. 1:02 Jeremy is a man. You can see his photo here.

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  11. MB's continued power grabbing is simply shocking. But where's the beef?

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  12. I'm trying to muster up the same excitement I had when Banikarim came on board, but we all know what happened there. I guess I'll just wait and see, but not expecting him to stay long once he starts working with these people and sees how far gone Gannett is from being successful ever again.

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  13. I've watched Jeremy Gaines work for a long time, from when he had very little worthwhile to promote (Phil Donohue, Alan Keyes) to today when -- love MSNBC or hate it -- they have a strong schedule and make a ton of ad revenue. From the bad old days to today, Gaines is a guy with a very thick skin leavened by a healthy sense of humor and, most important, by an old-school reverence for the traditions of journalist -- print, broadcast and the newer forms. I'd expect him to be an aggressive attack dog when Gannett gets bruised and a good promoter for the many parts of the company that make up the whole. A good hire by Gannett -- wonder how they got him to leave Gotham?

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  14. Sorry Heidi Zimmerman did not get the job she so deserves.

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  15. I have worked with Jeremy. Not only one of the nicest people, but one of the smartest. He has a staff that is incredibly loyal to him and that says a lot. Gannett is luck to have him. Big loss of MSNBC.

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  16. Hello, all you NBCUniversal/MSNBC employees/F.O.J.G.*

    * friends of Jeremy Gaines.

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  17. Sometimes the truth is just that: the truth. Gannett is lucky to be getting Jeremy Gaines.

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  18. Editorial employees, especially, will find this interesting; it's from his MSNBC bio:

    Gaines began his career as assistant press secretary for the Clinton/Gore campaign and presidential transition team in 1992. Following President Clinton’s inauguration, Gaines served as Assistant Press Secretary for the White House, where he managed the activities of the White House Press Pool and staffed the White House press corps on all Presidential trips.   Gaines later served as deputy director of press advance for the White House, where he was responsible for managing the coordination of press coverage of the President's events and trips. Gaines joined MSNBC in 1998 as an associate producer for “The News with Brian Williams.”

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  19. Thanks for making the professional connections clear, Jim. If he is as good as his friends say, he will escape the Big G in 12-18 months.

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  20. Someone in the executive ranks with actual, real-world, hand-on journalism experience. That's a rarity for Gannett. Hope he effects some much-needed changes.

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  21. Just what we need: more self serving pr. Less attention to improving content.

    we could hire five reporters instead of this guy.

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  22. He must never have read this blog. Wonder what he's getting paid?

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  23. His bio says that he is from Westchester, NY. He should be very familiar as to the train wreck that The Journal News has become.

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  24. Another TV person hired to a supposed "digital company". And the beat goes on........

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  25. Hate to blow your pre-conceived story line folks, but this guy is very well regarded in the media space.

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  26. He must want to come back to Virginia/DC area.

    He sounds good. Hoping for the best.

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  27. This job reguires a lot of face time with Gracia. He better have VERY thick skin.

    Brian Williams is a sweetheart....this is NOT NBC.

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  28. Another score for Banikarim. Yet one more lap dog that will be charged with getting Banikarim those very important self- serving interviews. Now that she's knocked off David L Hunke, watch out Ellwood.

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  29. Just WHEN do you intend to grow and transform Gannett?

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  30. I give him a year, tops. Of course, if he comes up with another branding campaign, he could be out much sooner. It's all within reach, as you know.

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  31. Associate producers are glorified gofers. This guy's background is as a junior white house flak followed by years of flaking for a third rate cable news outlet. Hell fit in perfectly here at $200,000 a year.

    Sad, Gannett could have just moved over one of the many under utilized managers at Useless Today and saved a bundle.

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  32. He looks like he isn't going to be leading anything, with the exception of what he is told to say. I suppose On The Road will soon get its own vertical, however.

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  33. Does MB get finders fees for everyone she brings to the company?

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  35. I would love to see Banikarim's annual review, which must be in by now after 1 year on the job. Especially under the category of accomplishments.

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  36. So he's from MSNBC, the same people whose app hasn't updated it's "Most Popular" story list in almost another?

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    1. ... almost a month. Sorry about the Autocorrect typo.

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