Post by bob quarteroni on Feb 21, 2012 10:33:07 GMT -5
Editorial Upgrade at MaineToday Media
Submitted by Al Diamon on Fri, 02/17/2012 - 10:28am.
Maine Media
The other shoe drops: Almost overlooked in the announcement on Feb. 17 that Portland Press Herald managing editor Cliff Schechtman has been promoted to executive editor of the MaineToday Media newspapers was the news that one of the last remaining vestiges of the era of deposed CEO Richard Connor has been removed.
Scott Wasser is leaving the company. According to the news story in the MTM papers (in addition to the Press Herald, they include the Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel), his decision to depart was “by mutual consent.” What’s not in the story is that it was accompanied by a hearty sigh of relief from the direction of the newsroom.
Wasser wasn’t popular with reporters and other editors, who quietly complained that he knew and cared little about Maine and was more concerned with internal company politics than news coverage. While Schechtman brings a certain amount of baggage with him to his new job, that’s minor compared to Wasser’s many ethical issues and poor judgment in editorial matters.
There’s no reason to get carried away with optimism about MaineToday’s future. The company still faces huge obstacles in terms of finances and credibility, due to Connor’s poor management. But this change has to be seen as a positive step.
Submitted by Al Diamon on Fri, 02/17/2012 - 10:28am.
Maine Media
The other shoe drops: Almost overlooked in the announcement on Feb. 17 that Portland Press Herald managing editor Cliff Schechtman has been promoted to executive editor of the MaineToday Media newspapers was the news that one of the last remaining vestiges of the era of deposed CEO Richard Connor has been removed.
Scott Wasser is leaving the company. According to the news story in the MTM papers (in addition to the Press Herald, they include the Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel), his decision to depart was “by mutual consent.” What’s not in the story is that it was accompanied by a hearty sigh of relief from the direction of the newsroom.
Wasser wasn’t popular with reporters and other editors, who quietly complained that he knew and cared little about Maine and was more concerned with internal company politics than news coverage. While Schechtman brings a certain amount of baggage with him to his new job, that’s minor compared to Wasser’s many ethical issues and poor judgment in editorial matters.
There’s no reason to get carried away with optimism about MaineToday’s future. The company still faces huge obstacles in terms of finances and credibility, due to Connor’s poor management. But this change has to be seen as a positive step.