Palm Springs | What we now call a newspaper

"As Coachella Valley's premiere reach vehicle for those looking to market their products and services, we are strengthening our connection between content, consumers and advertisers."

-- Publisher Mark Winkler and Executive Editor Greg Burton in a letter to Desert Sun readers in Palm Springs, Calif., announcing plans to add a new local edition of USA Today. Starting next Sunday, the Sun becomes the latest daily across Gannett to be pulled into the Butterfly Project.

Palm Springs | Top editor Burton arrested for DUI

Greg Burton, executive editor of The Desert Sun in Palm Springs, Calif., was arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor driving under the influence of alcohol on Monday night, the newspaper says, citing a Riverside County Sheriff’s Department report.

Burton

The four-paragraph story, under a staff-only byline, says Burton, 50, was pulled over at 9:24 p.m. for a traffic stop at Fred Waring and Adonis drives in nearby Palm Desert.

Burton, executive editor since 2011, told the paper yesterday: “It’s a privilege to live and work in this community – and that comes with a responsibility to do what’s right. For me now, with this case, it’s a matter of making sure justice runs its true course.”

He was released by the Sheriff's Department and is scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 13, according to the Sun.

The paper didn't publish Burton's arrest mug shot, in contrast to other stories on its site, such as this one. However, Palm Desert Patch obtained and published the photo with its story.

Burton's arrest recalls the December 2010 DUI arrest of Ted Power, then publisher of the Reno Gazette-Journal. Unlike the Sun, the Reno paper also published his booking photo. The following month, Power left the paper to direct the newspaper page production hub in Des Moines.

[Photo: Sheriff's Department via Palm Desert Patch]

Palm Springs | In a rare launch, a new gay monthly

In what may be a first for a mainstream newspaper, The Desert Sun in Palm Springs, Calif., has launched a monthly magazine aimed at the local gay community, which comprises more than half of residents in some of the city's neighborhoods.

The first issue of the free-distribution Desert Outlook appeared yesterday. The 68-page magazine features a cover story about the prospects for gay marriage winning federal approval this year, plus an interview with Democrat Diane Feinstein, the state's senior U.S. senator and a gay marriage proponent.

Publisher Mark Winkler told the paper that Desert Outlook would meet "a significant need in this community -- thoughtful, stylish and sophisticated coverage. I am pleased that we can deliver relevant content to an important segment of our community."

The debut issue's advertisers include auto retailers, home improvement stores, real estate agents -- and a waggishly worded ad for a thrift store called Revivals. (See, below.)

The magazine's editor, Will Dean, edits a gay blog that's also called Desert Outlook.

Palm Springs has long been a popular retirement and second-home haven for gays and lesbians from Los Angeles, which is two hours west, and from the San Francisco area, an hour north on direct flights.

The Sun's circulation is 32,858 weekdays and 40,406 Sundays.

Pop Quiz | Can you identify Gannett's lounge?

The Desert Sun in Palm Springs, Calif., has just started a major newsroom redesign that will feature a new employee lounge, complete with couches and a coffee table.

The Sun isn’t the only site getting kick-back space for workers. “This mandate came from Corporate,’’ says Anonymous@8:44 p.m. “Sites are supposed to create friendly relaxing places with sofas, chairs.”

And not a moment too soon, judging from the following photos!

These are real employee lounges at Facebook, Gannett and Google. Can you match the companies and the photos?

[Lounge at company A]

[Lounge at company B]

[Lounge at company C]

For answers, check out the comments section, below.

Earlier: In Nashville, Tenn., a hullabaloo over an Ikea desk lamp.

Palm Springs | Memo: Cubes are out. Pods are in.

Newsroom employees at California's Desert Sun in Palm Springs received the following memo today.

All:

In the coming weeks, we will transition to a more logical, pod-based structure that is intuitive to our goals: collaboration, enterprise, urgency and engagement.

Practically, this means we tear the sucker down and build it back up.

This will be disruptive. Loud. Messy.

This is how it will work:

1. We clean the place up. You will need to mark file cabinets with a sticky note and your name if you believe the stuff inside is valuable. You may keep a maximum of one large file cabinet. If this is a hardship, please find me and we’ll talk. All unclaimed file cabinets will be moved out. THIS WORK NEEDS TO BEGIN TODAY 
2. Clean, minimize your current work station. Think Zen and Steve Jobs. Throw stuff away. Liberate, recycle, cleanse. THIS WORK NEEDS TO BEGIN TODAY 
3. Nick, Vince, Carla and Louis are equipping a temporary staging center across the hall where you’ll transition while your old place is razed and/or your new digs are assembled. THIS COULD BEGIN AS EARLY AS NEXT WEEK 
4. Nick, Vince, Carla and Louis are working on a warning schedule so you’ll have a week or so prepare. Retention of personal items, stuff that you need to keep, job tools, should be boxed and ready to roll. 
5. You’ll hear pounding, hammering and cracking as they tear down and reassemble cubes. Don’t be alarmed. Bring ear plugs or an iPod. Conduct an interview in one of our offices.

When we are done, we’ll have a lounge where the staging center was, with couches and a coffee table. We’ll have a campus/training center. We’ll be rid of orange cones and raw cables. We’ll have a space that is comfortable.

This is a good thing.

Related: The Sun's weekday circulation, 32,858; Sunday, 40,406.

Palm Springs | An excellent read: 'Battle at Betty Ford Center: Internal rift clouds center's future'

In a textbook example of public-service journalism, The Desert Sun in Palm Springs, Calif., has used public documents and private correspondence to reveal a feud over the legacy of first lady Betty Ford and the addiction treatment center she helped establish in nearby Rancho Mirage. Here's the top of this morning's mainbar, by reporters Marcel Honoré and Erica Felci:

Betty Ford

The death of first lady Betty Ford has deepened divisions between her longtime allies and the director of the Betty Ford Center, prompting several former board members and wealthy former patients to pull donations at a time when the economy has constricted the center's once enviable cash flow.

The world-renowned treatment center, which aggressively protects the secrets of donors and patients, is now estranged from Betty Ford's daughter when its future is most in question. Ford — who devoted her post-White House years to addiction treatment — lent her life-story to the Rancho Mirage center and wished above all else that her daughter, Susan Ford Bales, would succeed her as the board's chairwoman, where she could protect her vision.

Susan F. Bales

But as Betty Ford's strength diminished, a feud erupted over the selection of a new CEO and a push by the center's old-guard executive, John Schwarzlose, also to treat patients who are addicted to sex and gambling — a shift from Ford's desire to focus solely on drug and alcohol addiction.

In a stunning twist, a majority of the center's board of directors ousted Bales as chairwoman last spring. The coup was not announced to the general public. Friends of the Ford family were outraged. Seven months later, Bales resigned.

The Desert Sun's circulation: weekdays, 43,422; Sundays, 50,661, according to the ABC's circulation lookup.

[Front page: Newseum]

Palm Springs | All signs point to a GCI paper

[Desert Sun offices: Palm Springs, Calif., 3:58 p.m. PT today]

While visiting friends in South California, I got lost during a bike ride today, finding myself in front of The Desert Sun. Noted: The paper has already added, "A Gannett Newspaper'' -- in the correct, all-caps style -- to its sign on Gene Autry Trail. (See, arrow.)

Palm Springs | Burton said named new editor

In an e-mail a few hours ago with the subject line, "new EE named at Palm Springs," a reader says:

"Publisher Mark Winkler is addressing the staff now. It's Greg Burton, an AME at the News Journal in Wilmington. He starts April 11."

Burton would replace the Desert Sun's Rick Green, who was promoted in early January to the top editing job at The Des Moines Register, after Carolyn Washburn moved to The Cincinnati Enquirer.

Nashville | Cleaner, easier-to-navigate site debuts

Silverman

The Tennessean is the latest of the U.S. dailies to adopt the new website template s-l-o-w-l-y rolling out across Gannett. In a column today, Editor Mark Silverman says the paper's digital staff "worked with our colleagues at Gannett Digital and a design firm that has helped sites such as CNN shape their approaches. They simplified the site's look, organization and navigation in ways that respond to much of the feedback you have provided during the past year."

Other recent adopters: The Desert Sun at Palm Springs, Calif., and The Des Moines Register.

Has your site launched the new template? Please post your replies in the comments section, below. To e-mail confidentially, write jimhopkins[at]gmail[dot-com]; see Tipsters Anonymous Policy in the rail, upper right.

Des Moines | Palm Springs' Green is new top editor

In a statement, Corporate says that Executive Editor Rick Green of The Desert Sun in Palm Springs, Calif., replaces The Des Moines Register's Carolyn Washburn, who moves to The Cincinnati Enquirer's top newsroom position.

Urgent: Kane returns to Rochester publisher post

Kane

[Updated at 3:58 p.m. ET: Corporate has now posted a press release.]

[Updated at 3:27 p.m. ET: Whew! Talk about musical executive chairs! Kane is returning to his former job as publisher of the Democrat and Chronicle in Rochester, N.Y., the paper is now reporting. He remains president of the East Group. He replaces Ali Zoibi, who was named publisher of The Daily Advertiser in Lafayette, La. Zoibi, in turn, replaces Leslie Hurst, named chief executive last week of The Clarion-Ledger in Jackson, Miss.]

Zoibi

[Updated at 3:07 p.m. ET: In an e-mail, a reader has just told me the following. "We just got a message (I'm not in the office) of a last minute 3 pm meeting for all Rochester D&C employees...don't know what it's about yet."]

The Indianapolis Star is updating its story about Karen Crotchfelt's promotion to publisher. The story now says: "She replaces Michael G. Kane, whose new assignment within Gannett is expected to be announced this afternoon."

The Indianapolis Business Journal has now posted a story that includes a short interview with Crotchfelt. The Journal says she is 40 years old.

Indy | Who are the two unidentified men here?

The Indianapolis Star's online story this morning about its new publisher includes the photo, above, with a cutline that only says the following: "Karen Crotchfelt was named today president and publisher of Star Media."

Kane file photo

It doesn't identify the men behind her, who I've circled. Is that outgoing Publisher Michael Kane on the right? And is that U.S. newspapers chief Bob Dickey on the left?

Please post your replies in the comments section, below. To e-mail confidentially, write jimhopkins[at]gmail[dot-com]; see Tipsters Anonymous Policy in the rail, upper right.

Urgent: Indy's Kane is 'reassigned'; Crotchfelt's in

Yikes! Word for word from a new seven-paragraph story now on The Indianapolis Star's website:

Karen Crotchfelt, a Gannett Co. executive at Republic Media in Phoenix, today was named publisher and president of Star Media in Indianapolis.

A Midwest native, Crotchfelt is senior vice president for sales and strategy at Republic Media, publisher of The Arizona Republic. Star Media, publisher of the Indianapolis Star and IndyStar.com, and Republic Media are owned by Gannett

“I’m excited to be back in the Midwest," Crotchfelt told Star employees this morning. "I grew up just a couple of hours from here.

“I’m excited at the energy I feel here and anxious to get started.”

She begins Jan. 3.

She replaces Michael G. Kane, who is being reassigned in Gannett.

She will bring skills in strategic thinking and communications from Phoenix to Indianapolis, said Bob Dickey, Gannett U.S. community publishing president.

Dominos falling
Kane's mysterious reassignment doesn't make clear whether leaves also means he's out as president of the newly formed East Group, one announced a week ago today as part of a broader reorganization of the entire U.S. newspaper group senior management structure.

GCI has now shifted 17 newspaper CEOs this year

Hurst

This morning's promotion of Leslie Hurst to publisher of The Clarion-Ledger in Jackson, Miss., is at least the 17th 14th13th turnover of a top Gannett newspaper executive this year.

This unusual turnover -- half of it, in the past month -- is among GCI's 81 U.S. community publishing newspapers, and the Tucson, Ariz., newspaper partnership. It follows recent Gannett Blog speculation that the division was due for a big reorganization. The list so far:

1. Today. Hurst is replacing retiring Larry Whitaker. Her successor at The Daily Advertiser in Lafayette, La., hasn't been announced.
2. Yesterday. Gabe Aguiree named general manager of the Iowa City Press-Citizen, replacing Dan Brown, whose departure wasn't explained.
3. Dec. 10. Kim Wilson leaves Fort Collins Coloradoan; her departure isn't explained, and a replacement hasn't been announced.
4. Dec. 6. Scott Johnson to publisher of the St. Cloud Times in Minnesota. He replaces Bill Albrecht, who was earlier named president of the Media Network of Central Ohio.
5. Nov. 30. Charlie Nutt retires as publisher of The Daily Journal in Vineland, N.J. Advertising Director Joseph Calchi also assumes title of general manager.
6. Michael Beck to general manager of Wisconsin's Stevens Point Journal; he replaced Mark Baldwin, whose departure wasn't explained.
7. Nov. 18. Howard Griffin named publisher of The News Journal in Wilmington, Del., replacing retiring Curtis Riddle.
8. Nov. 15. Mike Jameson leaves as CEO Tucson Newspapers, the joint operating agency co-owned by Gannett and Lee Enterprises; it publishes Lee's Arizona Daily Star. Jameson's replacement hasn't been announced.
9. Oct. 20. Andrew Oppmann leaves as publisher of The Leaf-Chronicle for a university job; his permanent replacement hasn't been announced.
10. Oct. 12. Lee Webber officially retires as publisher of The Honolulu Advertiser after its sale to a cross-town rival.
11. Sept. 28. Linda Greiwe to publisher of the Springfield News-Leader in Missouri, replacing retiring Thomas Bookstaver.
12. Sept. 13. Mark Winkler to publisher of The Desert Sun in Palm Springs, Calif., replacing Richard Ramhoff, whose departure was not explained.
13. Sep. 13. James Fogler to publisher of the Burlington Free Press, replacing Brad Robertson, who was promoted to president of the new GannettLocal.
14. May 25. Samuel Martin to publisher of the Montgomery Advertiser in Alabama. He replaces Cheryl Lindus.
15. May 25. Lindus to general manager of The Muncie Star in Indiana. She replaces Gene Williams, named executive editor of the Courier-Post in Cherry Hill, N.J.
16. April 7. Paul Grzella to general manager of New Jersey's Courier News in Bridgewater and the Home News Tribune in East Brunswick; he replaced Skip Hidlay, who left to become publisher of the Wichita Eagle in Kansas. 
17. March 25. Mei-Mei Chan to publisher of The News-Press in Fort Myers, Fla., replacing Carol Hudler, who was promoted to publisher of The Tennessean at Nashville in November 2009.

Have I missed anyone? Please post your replies in the comments section, below. To e-mail confidentially, write jimhopkins[at]gmail[dot-com]; see Tipsters Anonymous Policy in the rail, upper right.

Palm Springs | Memo reveals advertising staff cuts

Publisher Mark Winkler sent the following memo to Desert Sun staff today; it follows his promotion to publisher in September, after Richard Ramhoff left amid flagging advertising sales. Winkler came to the Palm Springs, Calif., paper from outside Gannett; he had been a MediaNews Group marketing and sales executive. A Gannett Blog reader provided a copy of his memo moments ago.

To: The Desert Sun Staff

Fr: Mark Winkler

Re: Advertising Sales Reorganization 12/13/2010

In my communications to you, I have mentioned that we would undergo a significant advertising sales and marketing reorganization during the fourth quarter of this year. This is necessary in order to create the appropriate structure to best represent the products and services we have to offer to our customers, as we move forward. Today, members of the senior leadership team had meetings with the associates in that business unit to advise them of the structural changes in our sales and marketing organization and the new positions, configuration and role that each associate would have moving ahead.

It must be noted that the new organization will function in a more focused and streamline arrangement, and thus some positions and headcount were eliminated. While changes of this magnitude are never easy, they were necessary as a result of a detailed review of our sales and marketing environment, current business conditions, and sales opportunities not yet realized. We are confident that our newly formed organization will flourish and thrive in the new world. As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

On behalf of the operating committee, I want to extend my appreciation for the contributions of those individuals who were affected by these changes and wish those departing the organization the best in their new endeavors.

Mark Winkler

Got a memo? Please post your replies in the comments section, below. To e-mail confidentially, write jimhopkins[at]gmail[dot-com]; see Tipsters Anonymous Policy in the rail, upper right.

Fort Collins | Another pub's mysterious departure; Wilson is 2nd West Group exec to leave in two days

Yikes! Did Laura Hollingsworth even pause to sharpen her blade?

The chopping block

In the second unexplained departure of a West Group publisher in two days, the Fort Collins Coloradoan disclosed today that Kim Wilson is no longer its chief executive.

Wilson is the third publisher in the group to leave since September, and at least the 11th newspaper chief executive position to turn over this year among the 81 dailies in the U.S. division. The remarkable turnover follows earlier Gannett Blog speculation that the division was due for a reorganization.

Group Vice President Steve Silberman made the announcement to staff this morning. "Silberman said Wilson had left the paper, but did not specify the reason,'' the paper said.

Silberman said Gannett will conduct "an extensive search" for a new publisher, but said he didn't know how long that might take. Until then, Executive Editor Robert Moore will be interim publisher.

Follows Brown's exit

Wilson

Wilson declined to comment, the paper said. She had been president and publisher of the Coloradoan Media Group since June 2008. Before that, she'd been an advertising manager at The Courier-Journal in Louisville, Ky.; her surname then was Roegner.

Wilson's departure follows yesterday's disclosure that Iowa City Press-Citizen General Manager Dan Brown had left that paper under equally mysterious circumstances. And his exit followed that of a third West Group publisher, in September: Richard Ramhoff of The Desert Sun in Palm Springs, Calif.

The executives' departures follow reports I've received that West Group dailies have missed revenue targets this year. That's put pressure on group President Hollingsworth, who delivered the bad news to staff in Iowa City and Palm Springs.

What are team Hollingsworth-Dickey up to? Please post your replies in the comments section, below. To e-mail confidentially, write jimhopkins[at]gmail[dot-com]; see Tipsters Anonymous Policy in the rail, upper right.

[Photo: Wilson, the Coloradoan]

Iowa City | In mystery, general manager resigns

Looks like West Group President Laura Hollingsworth has swung her ax again -- this time, at the Iowa City Press-Citizen.

The chopping block

The paper's general manager, Dan Brown, has resigned, the paper disclosed in spare, four-paragraph story yesterday that doesn't include the usual fond farewells bestowed on executives departing under good graces. Brown had been GM since July 2009; he joined the paper in 1991.

Hollingsworth, who also is publisher of The Des Moines Register, told a staff meeting that she hoped to name a new GM "soon,'' the paper says.

As head of the West Group, Hollingsworth oversees more than a dozen other newspapers, including The Desert Sun in Palm Springs, Calif. In September, Sun Publisher Richard Ramhoff left his job, also without warning; his departure got the four-paragraph treatment, too.

The Press-Citizen's circulation is 10,129 Monday through Friday, and 12,396 on Saturday. It does not publish Sunday.

Text of Press-Citizen story
General Manager Dan Brown has resigned from Press-Citizen Media.

That announcement was made to Press-Citizen staff at a meeting Wednesday by Gannett Co. West Group President Laura Hollingsworth. She said she hopes to name a new general manager soon. Hollingsworth, who is president and publisher of The Des Moines Register, oversees the Press-Citizen as well as more than a dozen other newspapers.

Brown joined the Press-Citizen in 1991 as an advertising account executive. He served in several positions during his time at the Press-Citizen, including marketing director and advertising/marketing director. He was named general manager in July 2009.

Executive editor Jim Lewers will be responsible for Press-Citizen operations until a new general manager is named.

St. Cloud | Wisconsin ad exec named new publisher

Corporate just announced that the regional advertising director of Gannett Wisconsin Media in Green Bay, Scott Johnson, has been named publisher of the St. Cloud Times in Minnesota. Johnson succeeds Bill Albrecht, who earlier was named president of the Media Network of Central Ohio and president and publisher of The Advocate in Newark, Ohio.

Johnson's is the ninth appointment of a publisher this year alone among GCI's 81 U.S. community dailies. The news came today in a written statement that included a quote attributed to U.S. newspaper division President Bob Dickey. Fashioned and refashioned by publicists, quotes such as these risk sounding like commodities, rendering them less meaningful.

Quotidian quotations
Following are some of Dickey's quotes this year, with identifying names redacted. One of these is about Johnson. I've linked to the original statements.

"_____ is an innovator in finding solutions for customers and delivering the right audiences for advertisers across all platforms. _____ brings an impressive background in market development strategy and sales."

"_____ is an experienced advertising executive with a solid track record of building sales and competitive market share. _____ will be an important member of our team as Gannett continues to expand the ways we provide business clients with customized solutions and engage consumers."

"Through _____'s leadership, the _____ launched innovative products to increase readership and market share while also producing products and services that meet the needs of the community."

"_____ brings a diverse and fresh perspective that will help us continue to expand the many ways we meet the changing needs of our communities and customers, both consumers and advertisers."

" _____ has had a long, successful career with Gannett and brings important sales and marketing skills to this position. _____'s breadth of experience and leadership abilities will serve _____ and _____."

" _____ is bringing diverse experience and valued leadership to our _____ market and will build on the solid foundation _____ helped establish in this important market."

" _____ has intense drive, a collaborative spirit and a strong track record of providing innovative service to consumers and advertisers."

Got a favorite press release? Please post your replies in the comments section, below. To e-mail confidentially, write jimhopkins[at]gmail[dot-com]; see Tipsters Anonymous Policy in the rail, upper right.

Cincy | Report: Callinan to take an academic post; editor says any Enquirer decision 'a separate issue'

Cincinnati Enquirer Executive Editor Tom Callinan has accepted an academic job at the University of Cincinnati, a published report says today. When I asked him about the report, however, Callinan, 62, said only that his future at the newspaper "is a separate issue."

Callinan

The Daily Bellwether's report this morning follows Gannett Blog speculation last week about a possible change in top editors at the paper, one of Gannett's biggest. The Cincinnati blog says:

"There hasn't yet been an official announcement or a press release. Wags say that's why there's been nothing in the newspaper Tom Callinan edits -- without handouts the Enquirer is lost. But University of Cincinnati insiders tell The Daily Bellwether that Tom Callinan has already accepted a job in the school's Journalism Department and will start teaching winter quarter. Callinan will have the title McMicken professor of journalism. The insiders said Callinan will give up the editorship to become a full-time academic."

Callinan, in an e-mail to me, wrote: "The blog you reference seems to infer that this is a full-time position. It is a 3-credit adjunct faculty job, one evening class a week. Over the years I have done similar work with The University of South Dakota, Michigan State and Arizona State while the editor in those places."

He adds: "Any decision about leaving The Enquirer is a separate issue."

Possible successors?
Speculation making the rounds today is that an announcement could come very soon.

In a Gannett Blog post Thursday, three names surfaced as possible successors, should Callinan leave. They are the top editors at three GCI dailies, and all of strong Ohio connections: Rick Green of The Desert Sun in Palm Springs, Calif.; Beryl Love of the Reno Gazette Journal, and Carolyn Washburn of The Des Moines Register.

Last week, Callinan and Green addressed the issue with Cincinnati alternative weekly CityBeat.

Callinan said: “Regarding the rumor, I am telling inquiring reporters the truth: My wife and I have an appointment with our financial advisor next week. She is self-employed and does not have health care insurance so we would need to be very careful about any decisions."

Green, an Enquirer editor before the Sun, said: "It would be incredibly hard for me at this time to leave my team and the opportunities at hand here in Palm Springs to return to Cincinnati — even if there was a vacancy."

The papers' circulation:

• Cincinnati: M-F, 157,574; Sunday, 255,037
• Des Moines: M-F, 109,095; Sunday, 205,662
• Palm Springs: M-F, 34,419; Sunday, 40,893

Cincy | Callinan is said noncommittal on future; Green says it would be 'incredibly hard' to move

Callinan

Amid published speculation during the past 48 hours that he may be leaving as executive editor of one of Gannett's bigger dailies -- The Cincinnati Enquirer -- Tom Callinan has now told alternative weekly CityBeat in an e-mail: “Regarding the rumor, I am telling inquiring reporters the truth: My wife and I have an appointment with our financial advisor next week. She is self-employed and does not have health care insurance so we would need to be very careful about any decisions."

Callinan, 62, has been Cincy's top editor eight years; his first GCI job was in 1975, at Minnesota's St. Cloud Times.

Green

CityBeat, meanwhile, asked Executive Editor Rick Green of The Desert Sun in Palm Springs, Calif., about rumors he might succeed Callinan: “What I do know,'' Green said, "is that the past six-and-a-half years here in Palm Springs have been a tremendous chapter in my life, professionally and personally. As much as I loved Cincinnati and the Enquirer staff during my 15 years there, coming out West has been the best move of my career. Frankly, it would be incredibly hard for me at this time to leave my team and the opportunities at hand here in Palm Springs to return to Cincinnati — even if there was a vacancy.”

Two editors with Ohio ties
Green has been a rising editorial star: He was one of three top winners of President's Rings in May. And that was the first time he'd snared one of the newspaper division's top honors. Also, as a former Enquirer editor, he has Ohio connections.

Washburn

Another star editor with deep ties to Ohio is Carolyn Washburn, now executive editor at The Des Moines Register; she grew up in a rural area west of Cincinnati. Under her, the Iowa paper won a Pulitzer Prize for photography this year. As well, Washburn became a five-time ring winner in May, garnering her a coveted Chairman's Ring.

I worked with Washburn at The Idaho Statesman during the mid-1990s, when she was that paper's managing editor and I was projects editor. When I've been asked in the past about a possible vacancy in Cincinnati, I said I'd recalled Washburn expressing an interest in one day leading the Enquirer. I have not spoken to her in many years, however, so do not know her current plans. She's made one appearance here on Gannett Blog, when she posted this comment.

Circulation compared

• Cincinnati: M-F, 157,574; Sunday, 255,037
• Des Moines: M-F, 109,095; Sunday, 205,662
• Palm Springs: M-F, 34,419; Sunday, 40,893

Earlier: In a Cincinnati riddle, when is a rumor not a rumor?

Related: Ex-publisher Keating would accept $1.3 million to settle suit; his $50,000 monthly expenses