Monday, November 28, 2011

USAT | With quotes, it's déjà vu all over again

Companies routinely massage quotes in press releases to make sure senior executives stay on message. What follows is an updated version of a post I wrote in August about newly named USA Today executives. The latest was announced today.


"USA Today is an iconic brand with a heritage of innovation. I'm looking forward to being part of this dynamic team, providing our clients with engaging solutions across all our platforms."

-- Maureen Consavage, in a press release today, on being promoted to vice president of advertising/New York, at what's now being called USA Today Media Group. Consavage replaces one of the advertising VPs let go two weeks ago.


"USA Today is an iconic brand. . . . I’m looking forward to being part of this dynamic team committed to providing consumers with the best news and information anytime, anywhere."

-- Laura Del Greco, Aug. 29, on her appointment to the newly created position of vice president of client solutions.


"As one of the leading multiplatform media organizations in America, USA Today is focused on growing its iconic brand and I am looking forward to leading that effort."

-- Sandra Micek, June 20, on being named senior vice president for marketing.

7 comments:

  1. astonishing. iconically astonishing.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Gannett has actually made me hate the word "platform."

    ReplyDelete
  3. This is hysterical. Not only is corporate dictating how all sites operate, they won't let their new hires say anything original. It is definitely iconically astonishing.

    ReplyDelete
  4. WTH? Did they layoff all their Press Release writers? Or is this the homogenization of the press release just as they've already homogenized the newspapers.

    ReplyDelete
  5. What an embarrassment!

    ReplyDelete
  6. So called "Icon" today. Just another faded newspaper in the Newseum vault in a couple of years. Which is good for the Newseum, which can't afford to put up new exhibits.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Let's face it, they've reached the limit of their collective creativity. Recycling is inevitable.

    ReplyDelete

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."

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.