Comments on: Gerard Noonan: Why I’m running for the Fairfax board http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/09/22/gerard-noonan-why-im-running-for-the-fairfax-board/ now with extra source Sun, 12 Feb 2012 02:48:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Tom McLoughlin http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/09/22/gerard-noonan-why-im-running-for-the-fairfax-board/#comment-38413 Tom McLoughlin Tue, 22 Sep 2009 10:29:53 +0000 http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/09/22/gerard-noonan-why-im-running-for-the-fairfax-board/#comment-38413 What a pitch. One problem. Fairfax management doesn't appear to be a meritocracy. Just like major party politics. And quite a few other institutions around the place. Your application may be frozen at birth by studied indifference of lesser mortals intimidated by the real thing. Or as a colleague describes it - too many roosters. There's nothing like serious competency to court fear and loathing amongst misplaced, misconceived privilege. What a pitch.

One problem. Fairfax management doesn’t appear to be a meritocracy. Just like major party politics. And quite a few other institutions around the place.

Your application may be frozen at birth by studied indifference of lesser mortals intimidated by the real thing.

Or as a colleague describes it - too many roosters. There’s nothing like serious competency to court fear and loathing amongst misplaced, misconceived privilege.

]]> By: David Lowe http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/09/22/gerard-noonan-why-im-running-for-the-fairfax-board/#comment-38368 David Lowe Tue, 22 Sep 2009 06:43:29 +0000 http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/09/22/gerard-noonan-why-im-running-for-the-fairfax-board/#comment-38368 I would vote for you just on the basis of what you have written if I lived, say, south of the Sunshine Coast. There is, however, a major problem with newspapers in Queensland in that we in northern Queensland can get only NewsCorp newspapers. In Townsville where I live we get the Townsville Bulletin 6 days a week; the Courier Mail/Sunday Mail 7 days a week and the Australian 6 days a week. No Fairfax newspapers are available unless you want to pay for airmail delivery and get it in a couple of days. When you get on the Board I think there will be a little more to do than just governance. I would suggest you have a look at investment in a press for some newspaper competition in Townsville. You might also want to have a look at how far it is from Townsville to Brisbane; how many people live in the greater Townsville region; and the wide demographic that regional Queensland presents to organisations that really know their customers, potential and actual. I would vote for you just on the basis of what you have written if I lived, say, south of the Sunshine Coast. There is, however, a major problem with newspapers in Queensland in that we in northern Queensland can get only NewsCorp newspapers. In Townsville where I live we get the Townsville Bulletin 6 days a week; the Courier Mail/Sunday Mail 7 days a week and the Australian 6 days a week. No Fairfax newspapers are available unless you want to pay for airmail delivery and get it in a couple of days. When you get on the Board I think there will be a little more to do than just governance. I would suggest you have a look at investment in a press for some newspaper competition in Townsville. You might also want to have a look at how far it is from Townsville to Brisbane; how many people live in the greater Townsville region; and the wide demographic that regional Queensland presents to organisations that really know their customers, potential and actual.

]]> By: Murray Massey http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/09/22/gerard-noonan-why-im-running-for-the-fairfax-board/#comment-38365 Murray Massey Tue, 22 Sep 2009 06:32:28 +0000 http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/09/22/gerard-noonan-why-im-running-for-the-fairfax-board/#comment-38365 Gerard. It's years since I've seen good reason to be a Fairfax shareholder but I'm pleased to know you are seeking a position on the company board. The Fairfax boardroom seems desperately to need someone with your knowledge, skills and personal standards. It was a rewarding experience to once work at Fairfax and especially with many people of your calibre. I'd love to see the company explore a return to a place that at least resembles what once was a decent corporate culture with consistently high journalistic standards. Against my deeper desires, I found myself recently taking out an online subscription to the Financial Times of London to help satisfy my daily need for well-researched, soundly presented, interesting and broad-based financial coverage of society at large. The cost was around one-quarter that of the AFR offering (which I also trialled) and the London based product is a smorgasbord by comparison, notwithstanding its global rather than Aussie-centric perspective. One wonders whether those who preside at Fairfax read their own product content about a need to be globally competitive! My very best wishes in your endeavour. I've never made money from owning Fairfax shares. Murray Massey. Gerard. It’s years since I’ve seen good reason to be a Fairfax shareholder but I’m pleased to know you are seeking a position on the company board. The Fairfax boardroom seems desperately to need someone with your knowledge, skills and personal standards. It was a rewarding experience to once work at Fairfax and especially with many people of your calibre. I’d love to see the company explore a return to a place that at least resembles what once was a decent corporate culture with consistently high journalistic standards. Against my deeper desires, I found myself recently taking out an online subscription to the Financial Times of London to help satisfy my daily need for well-researched, soundly presented, interesting and broad-based financial coverage of society at large. The cost was around one-quarter that of the AFR offering (which I also trialled) and the London based product is a smorgasbord by comparison, notwithstanding its global rather than Aussie-centric perspective. One wonders whether those who preside at Fairfax read their own product content about a need to be globally competitive! My very best wishes in your endeavour. I’ve never made money from owning Fairfax shares. Murray Massey.

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