Clueless print media executive scolds employees for believing wild rumors, doesn't recognize his own failure to use the internet to publish the truth

McClatchy CEO Gary Pruitt, responding to rumors that McClatchy was closing it's DC bureau, fired off a memo to employees, lecturing them to check with corporate before assuming rumors are true.

"We are all likely to see and hear more rumors, misinformation, misstatements, etc. about McClatchy. We will do our best to correct what we can. We would also like to ask your help in checking with us when these situations arise before becoming concerned or assuming this kind of information is accurate."

This incident beautifully illustrates why print media is dying -- the knuckleheads in charge of print media do not understand the value of Internet. Why didn't Pruitt use the Internet to correct the misinformation, instead of firing off an angry memo -- days after the fact -- and making employees feel they did something wrong?

Gary, you have it backwards -- the employees haven't done anything wrong, it's you and your corporate team that have failed the employees.

Gary Pruitt should have his own blog, where he could provide real-time information about the company. It's much better to get the info out immediately rather than react to rumors by sending out angry memos days after the fact.

Of course, he could have suggested McClatchy employees read this blog for the info -- I posted my story on Sunday (Rumors of the closure of McClatchy's DC bureau are exaggerated) after a reader tipped me off Saturday -- almost immediately after the incident. (AP photo/H.W. Chiu)
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