Vote of Confidence
In professional sports, the kiss of death for a coach or manager going through a losing streak is when the team owner or general manager comes out with a rah-rah vote of confidence for the beleaguered leader. Phrases like "Joe will always be our manager" or "We have full confidence in Jim" generally presage Joe or Jim's firing, usually within a few days.
And with that preamble, I bring you today's votes of confidence in two big names in the newspaper business: "This company is not for sale," declares New York Times Co. Chairman Arthur Sulzberger. "Don't worry--McClatchy is decidedly not going bankrupt," proclaims McClatchy CEO Gary Pruitt.
OK. We believe you. For now.
Not only is Gary Pruitt running McClatchy into the ground, he will shortly be running the entire Newspaper Association of America into the ground. Starting next month he's the new chairman.
Posted by: metaprinter | April 23, 2008 at 02:01 AM