Here's part of a memo that Hollis Towns, the top editor at the Asbury Park Press, sent to staff this week; I'm particularly struck by the phrasing in the second paragraph.
From: Towns, Hollis
Sent: Tuesday, July 31, 2012 11:01 AM
To: ASB-APPNEWSROOM; ASB-DesignStudio; Grzella, Paul
Cc: Marymont, Kate; Kane, Michael G. (Rochester); Donovan, Tom
Subject: Local Information Center announcements
All,
I’m happy to announce that James Flachsenhaar has been named Managing Director of Content and Audience Development for the Asbury Park Press and our sister newspapers, the Courier News, Daily Record and Home News Tribune.
In the newly created position, Flax will oversee the development of content for shared and unique key newspaper audiences. Strategies will include the nurturing of audience relationships, the elevation of topics about which customers are passionate, and the optimization of content for various digital and print platforms.
Flax had been general manager and editor of the Daily Record, Morristown, a post that will be filled by Daily Record Local Editor Joe Ungaro. Flax had previously been executive editor of the Courier News, Somerville, and The News Tribune of Woodbridge. He will be based here.
Flax will be a great addition. His ideas, energy and creative thinking will be very beneficial to the entire management team.
From: Towns, Hollis
Sent: Tuesday, July 31, 2012 11:01 AM
To: ASB-APPNEWSROOM; ASB-DesignStudio; Grzella, Paul
Cc: Marymont, Kate; Kane, Michael G. (Rochester); Donovan, Tom
Subject: Local Information Center announcements
All,
I’m happy to announce that James Flachsenhaar has been named Managing Director of Content and Audience Development for the Asbury Park Press and our sister newspapers, the Courier News, Daily Record and Home News Tribune.
In the newly created position, Flax will oversee the development of content for shared and unique key newspaper audiences. Strategies will include the nurturing of audience relationships, the elevation of topics about which customers are passionate, and the optimization of content for various digital and print platforms.
Flax had been general manager and editor of the Daily Record, Morristown, a post that will be filled by Daily Record Local Editor Joe Ungaro. Flax had previously been executive editor of the Courier News, Somerville, and The News Tribune of Woodbridge. He will be based here.
Flax will be a great addition. His ideas, energy and creative thinking will be very beneficial to the entire management team.
"the optimization of content for various digital and print platforms." - What does this mean? Does a guy named Flax direct editors? Who reports to him? All of the NJ editors? Is he between Hollis and all of the editors?
ReplyDeleteYeah, the second paragraph is VERY interesting--a newly created position?
ReplyDelete... 'In the newly created position, Flax will oversee the development of content for shared and unique key newspaper audiences. Strategies will include the nurturing of audience relationships, the elevation of topics about which customers are passionate, and the optimization of content for various digital and print platforms."
ReplyDeleteTalk about Gannett speak.
Gannett values blather and buzzwords. The company is choked with site managers who've mastered the bullsh** abilities that Gannett "nurtured" during the fat years -- abilities woefully incapable of adapting and competing in today's media world.
ReplyDelete"Nurture" wire stories about celebrities or timeless no-brainers about going to the beach or getting your blood pressure checked, while "optimizing" even more staff reductions.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, local corruption in NJ goes on, and it's no different around most of the country.
The watchdogs have been put down.
We all know that Hollis didn't write that note. He neither writes nor talks like that. That kind of announcement is boilerplate. ("I'm happy to announce that ENTER NAME HERE has been named ENTER TITLE HERE... he/she will oversee ENTER RESPONSIBILITIES HERE")
ReplyDeleteOne question is, does Flax really know his shit, and therefore poses a threat to judgment-challenged Hollis? Or doesn't he, and Hollis can feel safe?
The real bottom line here is that Flax' incompetence destroyed the paper he was just at -- the Morristown Daily Record .. Circulation, web hits and relevancy all declined substantially during his tenure ... He will do nothing to help the Press
ReplyDeleteGet ready for the installation of similar useless positions at other Gannett infobullshit centers. What genius consultsnt came up with this brilliant concept?
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you have sources or links to back that up, 5:06. Feel free to add those.
ReplyDeleteYou can read the story Asbury wrote about it (unless the pay wall stops you) here: http://special.app.com/article/20120801/NJNEWS/308010042/Asbury-Park-Press-promotes-4-editors.
ReplyDeleteIt essentially says the same crap as the release.
The key point, though, that one person made above, is that Flax did, indeed, run the DR (and CN before that) into the ground.
Circulation dropped below 20K, almost 15 pct., the highest percentage in Gannett NJ and 2nd highest in NJ (Trentonian dropped more but still has greater circulation).
Nurturing of audience relationships? He had no idea what to ask those who came in for edit boards because he didn't read the paper himself.
Elevation of topics about which customers are passionate? That's going to mean things like men's health surveys and the drink of the week.
But then Gannett hasn't cared about real news for a long time.
I can vouch for what 5:06 said. He left the Courier News a shell of its former self and oversaw the gutting of the DR's editorial dept. and sacking of long time reporters photographers and editors who deserved better. (and so did the readers. Prepare for the further dumbing down of a once great paper...
ReplyDeleteBoth Towns and Washburn are buzzword-spouting Old Gannett hacks who've never had an original thought. Advantage goes to Towns, who has a personality and can be charming when he tries.
ReplyDeleteSounds like the APP has become quite the dumping ground for failed Gannett managers.
ReplyDeleteFolks, I see a bigger picture here. This is the beginning of Gannett getting down to its 31 papers or whatever bulls--t number they had before. This is a testing ground as to how to do this and what type of structure needs to be set up to run these merged newspapers. And as always, it will be with the fewest number of people possible. Basically, the structure looks like one gm for combined papers with the others out, this new position and all the managing editors out as well as any other underling editors such as city editors. Put three papers together and you can eliminate 6 positions. Just like the Gannett way
ReplyDeleteI worked for Flax at both CN and DR and am now counted among the sacked "editors who deserved better." And I'm aware he has his enemies and a talent for pissing some people off. But to blame him for running CN and DR into the ground is ridiculous, like the bloodbath and the cutbacks were his idea, or that he was ever in a position to prevent them. Even Hollis can't make those decisions on his own. Flax is smart, knows the business and if this position has to exist, he's a good choice to fill it. Would you rather have someone like JJC in this position? I'm sure he thinks he could do it better.
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DeletePeople who have known Flax a long time remember that he was once a respected and well-liked editor. But his years at Gannett have changed him ... At the DR, he was indifferent, ineffective and totally condescending.. and he may not have "destroyed" the paper, but he never respected the paper, the news, nor the people writing it
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to Joe Ungaro - well earned promotion. Good Luck
ReplyDeleteFlax also wrecked the old Woodbridge News-Tribune. He's actually likable when he's in middle-management, maybe because he knows how people are promoted, and he never knows who might get a post higher than his. It's when he runs the show that the claws come out. And I have no doubt he's gunning for Hollis' position, but this time he has competition. Thank God I'm out of that cesspool.
ReplyDeleteI've known Flax for years, and on the surface he's terrific and he has some very good qualities. But he's also kind of a dirtbag in a lot of ways, and there is no doubt that the Courier led Gannett in circulation percentage loss during a decade, part of which he was in command. I would have liked to have known him before he became what he is now, because that guy probably would have been fun to work with. And Towns is just another empty suit, defending the indefensible in ways that make you wonder how he even has a job.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite Flax line, which I heard more than once, "I Know it's a (bad/stupid/the wrong) idea, but do it anyway."
I worked for Flax for many years. Kind of a funny guy with a unique personality. He survived many cut backs. Something to be said for that.
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