[Speed Gibson,
Friday July 20, 2007 at 8:47pm]
Vote of No Confidence
The Fraters have an amusing take on Par Ridder, who lost a No Confidence vote taken by the journalists' union. The vote was 110 to 2, which begs some questions. Are there still over 100 journalists left there? Does that count the gatekeepers? Maybe they were the two nays.
But what was the real point of this vote? Retribution for the layoffs seems obvious enough, but these are smart people who know the realities of the business. (Hey, quiet out there!)
As "St. Paul" notes, to say that Par has damaged their credibility is absurd. Everyone's mind is already made up on this and unlikely to change. The only thing that could change their image is if they did put the Fraters in charge as Brian recommends. Now that would get me to resubscribe!
Is Ridder's management style too unsophisticated or too abrasive to suit the Guild? Perhaps, but such a vote is pointless and powerless to change that.
No, this vote is aimed squarely at Avista, via Par's mailbox. Their new owners likely have more changes in mind, changes the 110 don't like. I'm betting on the other shoe dropping, fairly soon.
But what was the real point of this vote? Retribution for the layoffs seems obvious enough, but these are smart people who know the realities of the business. (Hey, quiet out there!)
As "St. Paul" notes, to say that Par has damaged their credibility is absurd. Everyone's mind is already made up on this and unlikely to change. The only thing that could change their image is if they did put the Fraters in charge as Brian recommends. Now that would get me to resubscribe!
Is Ridder's management style too unsophisticated or too abrasive to suit the Guild? Perhaps, but such a vote is pointless and powerless to change that.
No, this vote is aimed squarely at Avista, via Par's mailbox. Their new owners likely have more changes in mind, changes the 110 don't like. I'm betting on the other shoe dropping, fairly soon.