UPDATED at 1:15 pm. A former Miami Herald staffer reacts to Landsberg's departure:
“I actually feel better about the future of the Miami Herald Media Co. today than at any point over the past 7 1/2 years,” Landsberg said. “We’re on solid financial footing. We’ve got a terrific new workplace that really suits a modern media company and an outstanding staff that’s completely dedicated, capable and will continue to forge ahead.”
From a former Herald staffer:
I don't know what would be worse, if Landsberg actually believes this or if pretending to believe it is the only way he's been able to survive the reality of the Herald's decline without losing his mind.
Solid financial footing? How does this manifest in the company operations? Certainly not in hiring, retention, raises or travel for news coverage. Layoffs, buyouts and voluntary departures have reduced the news staff by what, 70 to 75 percent in the past five or six years? Net newsroom hires from outside the company in that time, even if you include interns who move to staff positions? Probably less than a dozen. Big pay cuts, two weeks of unpaid furlough the past few years and suspended company 401k match. Oh wait-- million-dollar bonuses to McClatchy execs! So inspiring to the rank-and-file.
The "terrific new workplace'' is a half-empty building in the middle of nowhere with all the charm of a strip-mall medical plaza and more flat-screen tvs (such cutting-edge technology!) than reporters.
Where I agree wholeheartedly is with Landsberg's assessment of the remaining staff, who do the impossible every day because they still believe in journalism as a righteous calling and somehow have the strength to forge ahead despite McClatchy's best efforts to destroy a formerly great newspaper.
UPDATED at 12:45 pm. Via Huffington Post: Goodwill's Charity Racket: CEOs Earn Top-Dollar, Workers Paid Less Than Minimum Wage.
In 2010, Goodwill Industries International, Inc., the national parent corporation for all of the nation's secondhand clothing affiliates, paid its president and CEO James Gibbons more than half a million dollars in compensation. And dozens of state and local chapters copied the national headquarters' executive extravagance. Here's a rundown of the recent executive compensation packages for the three Florida-based Goodwill organizations that pay some employees less than minimum wage:
$440,197- CEO of Goodwill Industries-Suncoast, Inc.
$316,685- CEO of Goodwill Industries of South Florida, Inc.
$393,001- CEO of Goodwill Industries of Central Florida, Inc.
Tommy A. Moore, Jr., Goodwill Industries International's board chair Goodwill's board chair, says, "The board goes through a rigorous process to determine his compensation based on the impact of his leadership, strategic goals and performance."
But, what he doesn't tell you is that the CEO's annual review is less rigorous than the corporation's review of subminimum wage employees, who are evaluated every six months, or sometimes even more frequently. Turner-Little, a spokesman for Goodwill Industries International, Inc., described to me the "lengthy" and "extensive" process.
Last year, the Miami Herald's Doug Hanks reported, "Goodwill places some workers with below minimum wage jobs."
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| Source: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. |
Breaking News: Miami Herald publisher David Landsberg - the man who
But it's safe to say Landsberg will be making considerably more than the sub-minimum wages paid to many Goodwill workers. (Click here or see updates above.)
This morning a Herald staffer told me, "We're sad to see David leave, but those of us in the newsroom will still see him on a regular basis when we visit Goodwill to shop for our furniture and clothing."
From: Alvarez, Lourdes [mailto:lalvarez@miamiherald.com]
Sent: Monday, March 17, 2014 10:06 AM
To: Lourdes M. Alvarez
Subject: PRESS RELEASE: MIAMI HERALD MEDIA COMPANY ANNOUNCES DEPARTURE OF PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHER, DAVID LANDSBERG
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MIAMI HERALD MEDIA COMPANY ANNOUNCES DEPARTURE OF PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHER, DAVID LANDSBERG
MIAMI, FL, March 17, 2014 – After 30 years at the Miami Herald Media Company – the last seven-and-a-half as president and publisher – David Landsberg is leaving to become president and CEO of Goodwill Industries of South Florida. He will remain with the company through mid-April. A search for his successor is underway.
David Landsberg.
“It's difficult to recognize all of David's many, many accomplishments,” stated Mark Zieman, vice president of operations for McClatchy. Landsberg has spent his entire career working for the Miami Herald Media Company. He arrived from the University of Florida in 1984, attained an MBA from the University of Miami, held a variety of financial posts and rose to CFO, vice president of advertising, general manager and, lastly, president and publisher.
Under David’s leadership, he shepherded the company through a historic recession and the ongoing transformation of the business from print to digital. During the past two years, David also oversaw the relocation from downtown Miami to Doral, including the construction of the new production plant – an enormous undertaking all completed on time and on budget.
“I actually feel better about the future of the Miami Herald Media Company today than at any point over the past seven-and-a-half years,” Landsberg said. “We’re on solid financial footing, we’ve got a terrific new workplace that really suits a modern media company and an outstanding staff that’s completely dedicated, capable and will continue to forge ahead.”
Landsberg’s ties to Goodwill Industries of South Florida run deep. He’s served on the board for 18 years and feels strongly about its social justice mission to employ the disabled. Goodwill has handled all of Miami Herald Media Company inserts since 1995.
Zieman thanked David for his many contributions to the Miami Herald Media Company and to McClatchy over the years and wished him all the best with Goodwill during this morning’s announcement to employees.
###
Word document attached.
Media Contact: Lourdes M. Alvarez, Miami Herald, lalvarez@miamiherald.com
Lourdes M. Alvarez
Marketing Manager
Miami Herald Media Company
3511 NW 91 Ave., Miami, FL 33172
E. lalvarez@miamiherald.com
Miami Herald: Publisher David Landsberg leaving Miami Herald Media Co. to lead Goodwill Industries of South Florida
"I actually feel better about the future of the Miami Herald Media Company today than at any point over the past 7 1/2 years,” said Landsberg, 51.
ReplyDeleteWhich is why I'm leaving,