Comments on: Beecher: Walker squabbles while Fairfax burns

By: Marty O'Neill

Marty O'Neill — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 00:52:14 +0000

Like so many others, I could never see the point of having a right-leaning prominent member of the Liberal party as Chairman of Fairfax - what were they thinking?

and, now, the next Chairman seems likely to be Roger Corbett, a right-leaning Conservative christian - what was the Board thinking??

My view is that as there is separation of Church and State, there must also be separation of Church & State & the business of delivering news - clearly, the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Estates must ALWAYS operate independently - and be SEEN to be doing so

By: AR

AR — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 07:44:41 +0000

The greatest shame/pity of the trashing of SMH (and mexican frendz tell me the Age, just slightly not so much) is that it leaves one little choice for budgie cages but the Oz - which I absolutely refuse to countenance, I love my budgue more than I love Xwords/Sudoku.

By: JamesK

JamesK — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 05:58:45 +0000

It’s just never the arrogantly left liberal partisan and related dross journalism that’s the problem for Beecher. In fact according to him that seemingly defines “quality” journalism!

Under Walker, Fairfax delivered acceptable results to shareholders in an exceptionally difficult environment. It still maintains an underlying profit before massive asset write downs.

By: Diana Simmonds

Diana Simmonds — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 05:07:02 +0000

“Then he should gracefully resign.”
“Gracefully”???
I’d pay money to see that.

By: BH

BH — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 04:59:46 +0000

Well put, Eric. I really miss the old SMH.

I stopped buying it when Walker joined the Board as a form of protest. The writing was on the wall then because I couldn’t work out what on earth he had that could enhance the Fairfax Board.

By: Mr Squid

Mr Squid — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 04:14:21 +0000

fairfax hasn’t had a living brain cell of any species on its board, in its senior executive or involved in its editorial management since the 1970s.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 03:44:21 +0000

walker comes across as the worst type of the sydney/melbourne establishment.

there for the prestige of sitting on various boards, without actually contributing anything.

but, your point in relation to a lack of vision on his and other recent management may also ring true for brian mccarthy. in a recent conference call with analysts he was asked for his vision for fairfax media in the years to come. his reply was “cut costs”. not really a vision nor does it promote growth of a slowly withering business.

vale fairfax