Ex-Editor Unhappy in Indy, Rips Ryerson, Henry, Gannett
Dennis Ryerson and Barbara Henry are in the news again.
And the news is negative.
I’ll bet you can’t imagine that, can you?
A guy who worked at the local paper in the good old days – those would be the pre-Gannett days — and now is glad he doesn’t, sent me this e-mail.
“There’s an opening at the Indianapolis Star if you want to work for Dennis Ryerson and Barbara Henry. This woman didn’t.”
The guy provided me links to several stories about Vickie Elmer’s departure as business editor of the Star.
Elmer didn’t go quietly. She ripped the Gannett Co., which owns the Star, Ryerson [the editor] and Henry [the publisher].
Elmer said, “They basically pushed me out.”
She also told Editor & Publisher that her departure from the Star is a “red flag” about Gannett. “When good people can be sent packing, it raises cautions [about Gannett]. It’s a worrisome sign.”
Ryerson and Henry both include Des Moines as stops they once made in their working careers after Gannett bought the local paper and turned it into a hellhole.
Actually, Ryerson was at the local paper twice—and wasn’t well-liked by the newsroom staff either time.
In a separate interview with Joe Strupp of Editor & Publisher, Ryerson disputed the rip job Elmer did on the Star and its bosses.
“I don’t want to get into an argument with Vickie,” he told the journalism magazine. “But I want a business section that is compelling every day.”
It will be interesting to follow what happens now that Elmer’s comments have appeared in Editor & Publisher and on the Poynter journalism website.
The Poynter site has already received mail praising Elmer for not going quietly from her job.
You can take it to the bank that plenty of other people working at Gannett newspapers, including the one in this town, share Elmer’s thoughts.
They’d be heading for the exits, too, if they had another job to go to other than the night shift at Kum & Go.
A few more departures from the Star and a few more complaints to Editor & Publisher from the pissed-off people who worked there, and you can figure that one particular Indianapolis clown [who has no connection to the talented baseball team that played in that city from 1946-1962] may be looking for work again.
Come to think of it, the news editor job at the local paper is still open after more than a year. The farm department may need help, too. But I don’t know if I’d want to do that to Jerry Perkins of the farm department or not. I’m trying to stay in the holiday spirit.
************************************************************************
Here’s the Editor & Publisher story on Elmer’s departure:
'Indy Star' Top Business Editor Exits with a Blast at Gannett
By Joe Strupp
Published: January 13, 2005 5:00 PM ET
NEW YORK--Apparently fed up with what she termed Gannett Co.'s tightened "grip on the paper," Vickie Elmer of The Indianapolis Star left her job Thursday afternoon as top editor of the business section.
In a frank memo, first posted on the Poynter Institute's Romenesko site, Elmer, 43, stated why she was leaving the paper's assistant managing editor/business post, which she has held since late 2003. Her reason: "[A] fundamental and philosophical disagreement with senior management over the direction, readership and staffing needs of the Business section. ... I leave hoping for the best for The Star, as Gannett tightens its grip on the paper and its people."
Elmer revealed she was leaving "at a time and in a way that my bosses have determined are best -- and I hope they will give their best, as I did, to the dozen members of my team."
She lamented that her departure had to occur with "much work undone and at least six jobs on the Business Desk unfilled, because of the five-plus month hiring freeze and other factors outside my control." She added that the paper's top managers wanted to "reinvent the Business section so it focuses on the business elite, managers, executives and opinion leaders. My vision has always been broader and more inclusive -- we provide stories that appeal to clerks and CEOs, college students, cafe owners and cleaning ladies."
Elmer, who could not be reached for comment, also tallied the section's successes under her guidance, including more front-page play and a "string" of exclusives.
According to her bio on the paper's Web site, "Ms. Elmer ... was hired to develop the Business section as a must-read with stories that have authority, creativity and broad appeal. The section focuses on the regional economy of Indiana, health and medical coverage and retail and consumer issues.
"She had spent seven years at Newsday in New York City and Long Island, editing weekend and enterprise business and workplace stories, developing coverage of New York City business and the rebuilding of the World Trade Center complex.
"She also helped Newsday develop and expand its Sunday Money & Careers section and its coverage of stories that appeal to women and 20-somethings".
Editor Dennis Ryerson and Publisher Barbara Henry could not immediately be reached for comment Thursday afternoon.
Joe Strupp (jstrupp@editorandpublisher.com) is a senior editor at E&P.
*************************************************************************************
Here’s what the journalism website Poynteronline used on Elmer’s exit from the Indianapolis paper:
Topic: Memos Sent to Romenesko
Date/Time: 1/13/2005 3:01:28 PM
Title: Indy Star business editor Elmer's farewell memo
Posted By: Jim Romenesko
Indianapolis Star assistant managing editor/business Vickie Elmer's resignation memo
I regret to say that I am leaving The Indianapolis Star, effective immediately, because of a fundamental and philosophical disagreement with senior management over the direction, readership and staffing needs of the Business section.
I leave much work undone and at least six jobs on the Business Desk unfilled, because of the five-plus month hiring freeze and other factors outside my control. And I leave Business section prototypes sparkling and nearly ready to launch.
I leave The Star as senior management seeks to reinvent the Business section so it focuses on the business elite, managers, executives and opinion leaders. My vision has always been broader and more inclusive -- we provide stories that appeal to clerks and CEOs, college students, cafe owners and cleaning ladies.
I leave behind a small but mighty Business Desk that has come together with a can-do attitude that has resulted in a number of impressive achievements in the last year:
-We have produced more A1 staff stories than the Sports and Features Desks combined, and those departments are each more than twice the size of Business.
-We have produced a string of exclusive stories, from ATA's deal with Southwest to Eastgate Mall closing to Guidant's moves and the 19-year-old's suicide in a Lilly drug trial.
-We have written diverse and lively stories and profiles, about small Mexican restaurants thriving in Indianapolis and hip-hop retailer Man Alive, minority business contracts and profiles of the female plantiff taking on Wal-Mart.
-We have written with authority, color and context on companies from ATA to Zimmer, from Artistsrunway.com and Eli Lilly to Long's Electric.
I leave at a time and in a way that my bosses have determined are best -- and I hope they will give their best, as I did, to the dozen members of my team.
I leave giving thanks and accolades to the fine journalists and staff throughout The Star newsroom who helped me and worked so hard with me during 14 months as assistant managing editor/business. Thanks to everyone for their encouragement, energy and support.
I leave hoping for the best for The Star, as Gannett tightens its grip on the paper and its people. I hope the energy and exclusives will carry on and the collaborative and caring esprit de corps of the Business staff will continue to shine.
*************************************************************************************
Here’s the Editor & Publisher story after Joe Strupp interviewed Ryerson:
'Indy Star' Editor Defends Paper From Ousted Biz Editor's Complaints
By Joe Strupp
Published: January 14, 2005 2:00 PM ET
Dennis Ryerson, editor of The Indianapolis Star, challenged the claim by ousted business-section editor Vickie Elmer that she had been unable to hire new people for her staff, saying he is actively recruiting for four business section positions.
"I am looking to replace her, as well as hire a deputy business editor, a reporter, and a business columnist," said Ryerson, who would not comment specifically on Elmer's Thursday departure. "We had slowed hiring, but we are back in the game filling positions."
Elmer left her post as assistant managing editor/business after 14 months on the job, citing staffing limits as among her reasons for departure, in a widely circulated memo. The terse memo claimed that parent company Gannett was partly to blame for the limited resources, saying it was tightening its "grip on the paper." She repeated her concerns about Gannett in comments to E&P this morning.
Ryerson disagreed, saying that in addition to the business recruitment, he had hired a sportswriter and a graphic designer in the past few weeks. "We also have about a dozen positions we are filling," he added.
Elmer objected to what she termed a changing focus for the business section, away from a mix of personal-finance and feature stories -- along with hard news -- to more corporate and "elite" stories, "focusing more of the stories on the top five percent of the audience," Elmer said. "Senior managers, executives and business owners."
Ryerson would not specifically respond to Elmer's complaints, but he admitted that the business section was seeking a more hard-core approach along with personal finance topics. "My No. 1 interest is serving the core business reader," Ryerson said. "We have lost some of that franchise over the years. I don't want to get into an argument with Vickie. But I want a business section that is compelling every day."
Elmer said she had been asked to either follow the new approach or take another position at the paper. She said none of the other posts were attractive, so she left. "I could not see myself in another position, so we parted ways," Elmer added. "But they basically pushed me out."
Ryerson declined to comment on whether Elmer was fired or quit. "It is a personnel issue," he said.
Elmer, who is from Detroit, said she was "wined and dined" by the Star in late 2003 to take the job after seven years in several business section posts at Newsday in Melville, N.Y. "I gave up a very interesting and cool job to come here," she told E&P. "They took me to fancy restaurants and talked up the city. It was a substantial pay package and a hiring bonus."
She said the paper promised her a mixed approach to business coverage, as well freedom to hire at least five people to fill business-section openings. "I added two people to my staff, including one who came over from the projects team," Elmer said. "But then the hiring freeze hit in August. I also lost two people during that time, so my staff was still down."
The former editor, who said she would like to join another newspaper or magazine, made clear that it would likely not be another Gannett publication. "It has given me pause about Gannett," she said about her experience. "The whole staffing resources issue. They're not hiring a sizeable enough staff. There is not enough of a sense of being able to do good work."
She called her departure a "red flag" about Gannett. "When good people can be sent packing, it raises cautions [about Gannett]," she added. "It's a worrisome sign."
Ryerson, who joined the Star two years ago, confirmed that Elmer had been the third assistant managing editor/business to leave in four years. But, he said other editing posts had also seen higher turnover in the recent past, a situation he believes is changing. "We are seeking more stability in all departments and I think it is happening," he added.
Joe Strupp (jstrupp@editorandpublisher.com) is a senior editor at E&P.
GOOD FOR JOE BUCK, GOOD FOR FOX SPORTS
So Red McCombs, owner of the Minnesota Vikings, wanted play-by-play announcer Joe Buck removed from the team’s NFL playoff game Sunday against Philadelphia, right?
Fox Sports, the TV company for which Buck works, told McCombs to shove his request up his ass.
Well, maybe those weren’t the precise words Fox used to turn down McCombs’ request. Whatever, Buck isn’t buckling under anything McCombs wants. Buck will be the play-by-play announcer Sunday.
I understand McCombs, who lives in San Antonio, Texas, made his money selling used cars. I’m sure he’s very good at his job. I'm sure he sold plenty of 1990 Plymouths.
But it’s obvious he doesn’t know a damn thing about TV.
Buck got in trouble with McCombs after he termed as “disgusting” what the Vikings’ Randy Moss did late in last Sunday’s game against the Green Bay Packers.
After scoring a touchdown, Moss pretended to be taking down his pants and wiping his ass on the goalpost at Lambeau Field in Green Bay.
Buck immediately said on the air that it was—“disgusting…..and it’s unfortunate we had it on the air.”
Moss has since been fined $10,000 by the NFL.
I’m glad Buck said what he said and I’m glad Fox is standing behind him.
Now, if we can just get Buck to quit acting like he’s partial to the St. Louis Cardinals whenever Fox carries a Cardinals-Chicago Cubs game during the baseball season.
Buck, of course, is the son of the late Jack Buck, a longtime announcer for the St. Louis Cardinals.
Vol. 4, No. 299
Jan. 15, 2005
And the news is negative.
I’ll bet you can’t imagine that, can you?
A guy who worked at the local paper in the good old days – those would be the pre-Gannett days — and now is glad he doesn’t, sent me this e-mail.
“There’s an opening at the Indianapolis Star if you want to work for Dennis Ryerson and Barbara Henry. This woman didn’t.”
The guy provided me links to several stories about Vickie Elmer’s departure as business editor of the Star.
Elmer didn’t go quietly. She ripped the Gannett Co., which owns the Star, Ryerson [the editor] and Henry [the publisher].
Elmer said, “They basically pushed me out.”
She also told Editor & Publisher that her departure from the Star is a “red flag” about Gannett. “When good people can be sent packing, it raises cautions [about Gannett]. It’s a worrisome sign.”
Ryerson and Henry both include Des Moines as stops they once made in their working careers after Gannett bought the local paper and turned it into a hellhole.
Actually, Ryerson was at the local paper twice—and wasn’t well-liked by the newsroom staff either time.
In a separate interview with Joe Strupp of Editor & Publisher, Ryerson disputed the rip job Elmer did on the Star and its bosses.
“I don’t want to get into an argument with Vickie,” he told the journalism magazine. “But I want a business section that is compelling every day.”
It will be interesting to follow what happens now that Elmer’s comments have appeared in Editor & Publisher and on the Poynter journalism website.
The Poynter site has already received mail praising Elmer for not going quietly from her job.
You can take it to the bank that plenty of other people working at Gannett newspapers, including the one in this town, share Elmer’s thoughts.
They’d be heading for the exits, too, if they had another job to go to other than the night shift at Kum & Go.
A few more departures from the Star and a few more complaints to Editor & Publisher from the pissed-off people who worked there, and you can figure that one particular Indianapolis clown [who has no connection to the talented baseball team that played in that city from 1946-1962] may be looking for work again.
Come to think of it, the news editor job at the local paper is still open after more than a year. The farm department may need help, too. But I don’t know if I’d want to do that to Jerry Perkins of the farm department or not. I’m trying to stay in the holiday spirit.
************************************************************************
Here’s the Editor & Publisher story on Elmer’s departure:
'Indy Star' Top Business Editor Exits with a Blast at Gannett
By Joe Strupp
Published: January 13, 2005 5:00 PM ET
NEW YORK--Apparently fed up with what she termed Gannett Co.'s tightened "grip on the paper," Vickie Elmer of The Indianapolis Star left her job Thursday afternoon as top editor of the business section.
In a frank memo, first posted on the Poynter Institute's Romenesko site, Elmer, 43, stated why she was leaving the paper's assistant managing editor/business post, which she has held since late 2003. Her reason: "[A] fundamental and philosophical disagreement with senior management over the direction, readership and staffing needs of the Business section. ... I leave hoping for the best for The Star, as Gannett tightens its grip on the paper and its people."
Elmer revealed she was leaving "at a time and in a way that my bosses have determined are best -- and I hope they will give their best, as I did, to the dozen members of my team."
She lamented that her departure had to occur with "much work undone and at least six jobs on the Business Desk unfilled, because of the five-plus month hiring freeze and other factors outside my control." She added that the paper's top managers wanted to "reinvent the Business section so it focuses on the business elite, managers, executives and opinion leaders. My vision has always been broader and more inclusive -- we provide stories that appeal to clerks and CEOs, college students, cafe owners and cleaning ladies."
Elmer, who could not be reached for comment, also tallied the section's successes under her guidance, including more front-page play and a "string" of exclusives.
According to her bio on the paper's Web site, "Ms. Elmer ... was hired to develop the Business section as a must-read with stories that have authority, creativity and broad appeal. The section focuses on the regional economy of Indiana, health and medical coverage and retail and consumer issues.
"She had spent seven years at Newsday in New York City and Long Island, editing weekend and enterprise business and workplace stories, developing coverage of New York City business and the rebuilding of the World Trade Center complex.
"She also helped Newsday develop and expand its Sunday Money & Careers section and its coverage of stories that appeal to women and 20-somethings".
Editor Dennis Ryerson and Publisher Barbara Henry could not immediately be reached for comment Thursday afternoon.
Joe Strupp (jstrupp@editorandpublisher.com) is a senior editor at E&P.
*************************************************************************************
Here’s what the journalism website Poynteronline used on Elmer’s exit from the Indianapolis paper:
Topic: Memos Sent to Romenesko
Date/Time: 1/13/2005 3:01:28 PM
Title: Indy Star business editor Elmer's farewell memo
Posted By: Jim Romenesko
Indianapolis Star assistant managing editor/business Vickie Elmer's resignation memo
I regret to say that I am leaving The Indianapolis Star, effective immediately, because of a fundamental and philosophical disagreement with senior management over the direction, readership and staffing needs of the Business section.
I leave much work undone and at least six jobs on the Business Desk unfilled, because of the five-plus month hiring freeze and other factors outside my control. And I leave Business section prototypes sparkling and nearly ready to launch.
I leave The Star as senior management seeks to reinvent the Business section so it focuses on the business elite, managers, executives and opinion leaders. My vision has always been broader and more inclusive -- we provide stories that appeal to clerks and CEOs, college students, cafe owners and cleaning ladies.
I leave behind a small but mighty Business Desk that has come together with a can-do attitude that has resulted in a number of impressive achievements in the last year:
-We have produced more A1 staff stories than the Sports and Features Desks combined, and those departments are each more than twice the size of Business.
-We have produced a string of exclusive stories, from ATA's deal with Southwest to Eastgate Mall closing to Guidant's moves and the 19-year-old's suicide in a Lilly drug trial.
-We have written diverse and lively stories and profiles, about small Mexican restaurants thriving in Indianapolis and hip-hop retailer Man Alive, minority business contracts and profiles of the female plantiff taking on Wal-Mart.
-We have written with authority, color and context on companies from ATA to Zimmer, from Artistsrunway.com and Eli Lilly to Long's Electric.
I leave at a time and in a way that my bosses have determined are best -- and I hope they will give their best, as I did, to the dozen members of my team.
I leave giving thanks and accolades to the fine journalists and staff throughout The Star newsroom who helped me and worked so hard with me during 14 months as assistant managing editor/business. Thanks to everyone for their encouragement, energy and support.
I leave hoping for the best for The Star, as Gannett tightens its grip on the paper and its people. I hope the energy and exclusives will carry on and the collaborative and caring esprit de corps of the Business staff will continue to shine.
*************************************************************************************
Here’s the Editor & Publisher story after Joe Strupp interviewed Ryerson:
'Indy Star' Editor Defends Paper From Ousted Biz Editor's Complaints
By Joe Strupp
Published: January 14, 2005 2:00 PM ET
Dennis Ryerson, editor of The Indianapolis Star, challenged the claim by ousted business-section editor Vickie Elmer that she had been unable to hire new people for her staff, saying he is actively recruiting for four business section positions.
"I am looking to replace her, as well as hire a deputy business editor, a reporter, and a business columnist," said Ryerson, who would not comment specifically on Elmer's Thursday departure. "We had slowed hiring, but we are back in the game filling positions."
Elmer left her post as assistant managing editor/business after 14 months on the job, citing staffing limits as among her reasons for departure, in a widely circulated memo. The terse memo claimed that parent company Gannett was partly to blame for the limited resources, saying it was tightening its "grip on the paper." She repeated her concerns about Gannett in comments to E&P this morning.
Ryerson disagreed, saying that in addition to the business recruitment, he had hired a sportswriter and a graphic designer in the past few weeks. "We also have about a dozen positions we are filling," he added.
Elmer objected to what she termed a changing focus for the business section, away from a mix of personal-finance and feature stories -- along with hard news -- to more corporate and "elite" stories, "focusing more of the stories on the top five percent of the audience," Elmer said. "Senior managers, executives and business owners."
Ryerson would not specifically respond to Elmer's complaints, but he admitted that the business section was seeking a more hard-core approach along with personal finance topics. "My No. 1 interest is serving the core business reader," Ryerson said. "We have lost some of that franchise over the years. I don't want to get into an argument with Vickie. But I want a business section that is compelling every day."
Elmer said she had been asked to either follow the new approach or take another position at the paper. She said none of the other posts were attractive, so she left. "I could not see myself in another position, so we parted ways," Elmer added. "But they basically pushed me out."
Ryerson declined to comment on whether Elmer was fired or quit. "It is a personnel issue," he said.
Elmer, who is from Detroit, said she was "wined and dined" by the Star in late 2003 to take the job after seven years in several business section posts at Newsday in Melville, N.Y. "I gave up a very interesting and cool job to come here," she told E&P. "They took me to fancy restaurants and talked up the city. It was a substantial pay package and a hiring bonus."
She said the paper promised her a mixed approach to business coverage, as well freedom to hire at least five people to fill business-section openings. "I added two people to my staff, including one who came over from the projects team," Elmer said. "But then the hiring freeze hit in August. I also lost two people during that time, so my staff was still down."
The former editor, who said she would like to join another newspaper or magazine, made clear that it would likely not be another Gannett publication. "It has given me pause about Gannett," she said about her experience. "The whole staffing resources issue. They're not hiring a sizeable enough staff. There is not enough of a sense of being able to do good work."
She called her departure a "red flag" about Gannett. "When good people can be sent packing, it raises cautions [about Gannett]," she added. "It's a worrisome sign."
Ryerson, who joined the Star two years ago, confirmed that Elmer had been the third assistant managing editor/business to leave in four years. But, he said other editing posts had also seen higher turnover in the recent past, a situation he believes is changing. "We are seeking more stability in all departments and I think it is happening," he added.
Joe Strupp (jstrupp@editorandpublisher.com) is a senior editor at E&P.
GOOD FOR JOE BUCK, GOOD FOR FOX SPORTS
So Red McCombs, owner of the Minnesota Vikings, wanted play-by-play announcer Joe Buck removed from the team’s NFL playoff game Sunday against Philadelphia, right?
Fox Sports, the TV company for which Buck works, told McCombs to shove his request up his ass.
Well, maybe those weren’t the precise words Fox used to turn down McCombs’ request. Whatever, Buck isn’t buckling under anything McCombs wants. Buck will be the play-by-play announcer Sunday.
I understand McCombs, who lives in San Antonio, Texas, made his money selling used cars. I’m sure he’s very good at his job. I'm sure he sold plenty of 1990 Plymouths.
But it’s obvious he doesn’t know a damn thing about TV.
Buck got in trouble with McCombs after he termed as “disgusting” what the Vikings’ Randy Moss did late in last Sunday’s game against the Green Bay Packers.
After scoring a touchdown, Moss pretended to be taking down his pants and wiping his ass on the goalpost at Lambeau Field in Green Bay.
Buck immediately said on the air that it was—“disgusting…..and it’s unfortunate we had it on the air.”
Moss has since been fined $10,000 by the NFL.
I’m glad Buck said what he said and I’m glad Fox is standing behind him.
Now, if we can just get Buck to quit acting like he’s partial to the St. Louis Cardinals whenever Fox carries a Cardinals-Chicago Cubs game during the baseball season.
Buck, of course, is the son of the late Jack Buck, a longtime announcer for the St. Louis Cardinals.
Vol. 4, No. 299
Jan. 15, 2005
posted by ronald wesley maly at 3:45 PM
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