Saturday, April 14, 2007

Mark Kurtich Leaving Los Angeles Times



With the announcement of the departure of Mark Kurtich yesterday, the pressroom was not elated with the news, but filled with a sense of uncertainty. One fellow employee in the pressroom told me “Ed, the place feels like a black cloud is hovering over us”, and another employee added, “Something terrible is about to take place here”.

What ever the case, we wish Mark and his family the best.


8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thats two (2) peas in a pod photo right there

Anonymous said...

I'll never forget one movie Mark showed at one of his Operations Values dinners. It was called "For Love and Profit."

In the movie a boss is dumbfounded as to why his employees were nervous, preoccupied and generally unproductive. Some Einstein has to come up and remind the dupe he earlier laid off a big chunk of the workforce.

Businesses are businesses and layoffs are at times necessary. They should not be taken personally. That is unless the boss presented the business as something else- something more than a business- something dedicated to values like those brought forth in that movie.

Anonymous said...

"That is unless the boss presented the business as something else- something more than a business- something dedicated to values like those brought forth in that movie".

IS THAT GOOD OR BAD?

Anonymous said...

I guess Mark knows now how the Drivers felt walking out the door

Anonymous said...

Mark it is both a pleasure and an honor working with you while I've worked for Bob Valenzuela working in security at the Olympic Plant keeping an eye on the janitors during my year at the Times.
Best of luck to you!
Bob Wright

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
IS THAT GOOD OR BAD?

Well, it's bad. Showing movies that denounce layoffs as corporate crime, then presiding over the layoffs of several hundred people you just showed the movie to seems a bit hypocritical.

I'm not saying the layoffs were not the right thing to do. I think they were necessary as the business had to change. I'm just saying if you are going to promote yourself and your values, you need to stop taking that paycheck and bonuses when you are required to violate your values.

Anonymous said...

Hmmmm, perhaps easier said than done. Stand on principal and join the ranks of the unemployed, or be realistic and support your family? Which would you do?

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said....
"..you need to stop taking that paycheck and bonuses when you are required to violate your values..."

No problem with that happening while Russ is in charge. I'd guess the only thing he values is a second helping of mashed potatoes.