Comments on: Does Fairfax need a 67-year-old grocer at the helm?

By: Tom McLoughlin

Tom McLoughlin — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 03:42:16 +0000

Raymond I think you are probably reading some of the ‘finger in the dyke’ right here. As well as Business Spectator and a few other projects Beecher is in to.

Of course the other possibility from Eric’s parable is that he wasn’t quite the advocate he wants to be.

And the third possibility of that multidimensional situation is how indeed does one explain the modern version of the Guttenberg Press to those before such existed? Or even post GFC to pre GFC? Reality would appear to have a credibility gap, just like 4 degrees climate change and the end of civilisation as we know it is unprecedented. Reminds one of fictional Jason Bourne ‘this is real’, another three worder like ‘yes we can’.

Seeing is believing but that’s too late. It’s a Singapore WWII sort of quandary. Cassandra even.

I suppose the best thing for peace of mind is just don’t look back as the bridge crumbles behind you with various precious things and people stranded on the wrong side. Survivor guilt perhaps. Grieve the past, compost/re-manufacture the present with the flotsam and jetsam of destruction and grow the future.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 01:37:58 +0000

yes, corbett to work wonders at fairfax!
sure, in a duopolistic industry like groceries when the only other competitor drops the ball ( coles ) you can shine as none others may.

what’s his journalistic background, experience, strategies etc? to me it’s just another fred hilmer being brought in ( ok, maybe not quite as bad ) or another example of getting your name on as many boards etc.

and for someone who is on the walmart board, does that bode well for a newspaper we want to remain quality ( they are already going down that slippery slope online )…..?

By: Smithee

Smithee — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 22:18:15 +0000

That boardroom scenario sounds right to me. Media execs from editors to publishers make most of their decisions based on what the internal political ramifications will be rather than what’s good for the product.

For years bow it has been impossible to suggest web strategies to these people because they simply don’t know anything about the web. They’re not likely to venture into terrain that they know nothing about, and hand over power to people who talk in unfamilar acronyms. They’d much rather keep sitting in their disintegrating castle hoping for some deus ex machina event.

By: Bullmore's Ghost

Bullmore's Ghost — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 13:15:51 +0000

Corbett is a grocer first and foremost and a director of the competition killing steam roller called Wal-Mart.

Let him try to run Fairfax like Wal-Mart. He’ll be tugging on the reins of a dinosaur as it charges off into extinction.

By: R Gilley

R Gilley — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 10:24:34 +0000

Just my 2 bobs worth: I also know Roger Corbett from a business perspective.
If anyone can fix Fairfax I think he can.
And by the way to describe him as a “grocer” doesn’t in any way tell the Corbett story - he is a fixer of businesses which is exactly what Fairfax needs. Anyone who has religiously gone out each Saturday and bought the the SMH would have to agree that the broadsheet needs to be rejuvenated.

By: Raymond

Raymond — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 05:49:50 +0000

Eric,

This sounds all a bit know-all after-the-event wisdom for me. Given how indiscreet you’re being about your private conversations in board-rooms, why not share with us what you actually suggested they do to put the fingers in the dyke of escaping revenue.

That will help us decide whether the above observations are wise or just wise-ass.

Would you accept the job of Chairman if asked?