About spanking new Kansas City Star publisher Mi-Ai Parrish…
With the newspaper likely facing another round of staff layoffs and/or cutbacks following the close of its second quarter at month’s end, the question is, will Parrish’s first major order of business be the axing of however many staffers? As has been the practice for years under now-former head dude Mark Zieman.
Or will parent McClatchy grant its newly-arrived publisher a stay of execution for the sake of getting off on the right foot?
"Oh boy, I hope there aren’t more ropes lying around to hang the bodies from the ceiling," winces retired Star editorJim Fitzpatrick, who covers the newspaper on jimmycsays.
"That’s an interesting question," Fitzpatrick continues. "You know, surely they wouldn’t start her off with, ‘Give us five heads’ or ‘Give us 15 heads.’ Maybe they could hold off and double up next time."
That would be following the third quarter at the end of September.
Fitzpatrick’s reasoning: "If they do it now you know – the quarter’s over and we’ve got 15 more people to get rid of – it’s like trampling all over her and she’s just a ‘yes’ person. You know, all over the United States there’ve been editors and publishers that have quit because they can’t stand to see the dismantling of their newsrooms."
With a bit of clear thinking, the Star could maybe play the furlough card (across-the-board, unpaid, forced vacations) and/or find other savings (like shutting down or cutting back more of its money-losing, regional satellite papers) and grant Parrish, "Maybe a layoff reprieve," Fitzpatrick says.
Stay tuned…
Off With Their Heads
If they’re serious about letting Mi-ah call the shots and rebuild the paper she’s had plenty of time to figure out that Penn, Hendricks, Diguid,Fannin,Yael and Jenee need to go, for starters.
If you want to restore credibility and esprit de corps among the rank and file you need to send the message that it’s not business as usual and you keep your job by bringing journalistic value to the product and not by walking the idealogical line that Art Brisbane drew askew.
She looks like Ally Sheedy from the “Breakfast Club”.
MI AI PARRISH: “I fuckin rocked in Math Club.”
MIKE FANNIN: “Put your hands behind your neck, and puch your elbows out as far as they will go. *smiles* Your hired.”
One prob, Chuck–SHE is Fannin’s boss!
So as funny as this sexist post is, you forget–she is Fannin’s boss, she should fire HIS ass for anger management issues.
I know it’s hard for you to imagine a young attractive smart woman being the boss of middle aged men. Except when you or Harley are watching your porn flicks. But just try…
Mi-Ai,
Don’t listen to Fitzpatrick. Anyone who hasn’t worked there in three or four years wouldn’t recognize the place and how it works anymore. When you listen to Fitzpatrick, you listen to yesterday.
And yesterday’s gone.
steveo
CHUCK: “She is pretty cute (*internal dialogue* OH FUCK!!! NOW I GOTTA FEEL GUILTY!!! ITS SEXIST!!! I THINK I JUST WISHED I COULD SEE HER ASS!!! Oh, thats right, I actually am proud of objectifying women, and I actually WOULD like to see her ass. I will discuss Bloom’s Western Cannon in a post coital glow, at least in my mind.)”
STEVEO: –“I know it’s hard for you to imagine a young attractive smart woman being the boss of middle aged men. Except when you or Harley are watching your porn flicks. But just try…” (*Steveo’s internal dialogue*, Everyone will think I am the sexual Rhamana, the 007 of verve and elan, a fully matriculated sensative and emotive babe magnet from a Jennifer Anniston Rom Com. I am finally getting some PUSSY!!!)
Probably not…