Comments on: Fairfax: Nik Howe didn’t quit. We fired him

By: mumbrella

mumbrella — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 03:44:03 +0000

At this point, we’re closing this comment stream for legal reasons.

Tim – Mumbrella

By: Jack

Jack — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 05:48:10 +0000

Doubt it’s so much “regardless of what else Nik got up to at Fairfax” as exactly what else he got up to..

By: Graeme - Prahran

Graeme - Prahran — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 05:19:43 +0000

Ahhh; “truth will (always) out”. Well in this case it is taking a bloody long time. With in between every kiund of comment; idiotic ranging thru to prescient and knowledgable.

But will someone put ,e out of my misery and just give us the facts – tha plain facts; then we can all get on with the rt of our lives.

“here’s hoping Esmerelda?

By: Stuart Ridley

Stuart Ridley — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 05:08:36 +0000

@Quentin Long: fair call!

It’s not a _little_ conflict of interest issue — it’s a bloody big one. It’s misconduct enough, regardless of what else Nik got up to at Fairfax.

Every contract I’ve seen and/or signed in this industry includes a heavy section about moonlighting, freelancing, consulting etc for another publishing business in direct competition with your _current_ publisher. Break that deal and you’re out.

If you use (or even attempt to use) your employer’s resources or IP to compete against them, then getting fired is only the beginning.

By: Jack

Jack — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 03:59:16 +0000

Misconduct sounds different to conflict of interest. Is the real story yet to unfold?

By: Fake Ron Walker

Fake Ron Walker — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 02:08:53 +0000

When I was there we used the backpage of the AFR to get some great PR about a little fall out we were having in the boardroom. Touche ! Anyone for pig hunting ?

By: Trevor

Trevor — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 12:49:11 +0000

who cares about Nik – he’d be forgotten in a week – worst for Fairfax though is who actually cares about that magazine – it’s the biggest NOTHING – just fluff with swimmers dressed in Gucci – OOHHH PLLLLEAASE -

By: jape

jape — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 02:11:20 +0000

Interesting to read these comments for what they imply: While there are supporters, there’s also a fair swathe of people who appear to have no love for Fairfax. These are people who place the ads that keep Fairfax alive. Time to sell your shares?

By: Grant

Grant — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 23:32:09 +0000

@Quentin – I agree with you. Their best approach to cover off what you have outlined was to hold a staff meeting, lay out the ground rules/reasons and move on. I had no idea there was an issue until Lisa announced. Bad PR on their behalf.

Then again, we don’t even know what his ‘Misconduct’ was…….What did Howe ‘get away with’? No-one will elaborate, so we can only assume! But are we correct. Like I said previously, I did not care about Nik’s move when I read it and 24hrs a go, only 2 people had bothered to post anything. Now Fairfax appear like bullies.

By: Quentin Long

Quentin Long — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 23:16:49 +0000

Jeezus
Has anyone stopped and thought the threat that this mere conflict of interest problem has created for the publisher – regardless of the company.

A publisher lives on their integrity and anyone who threatens that integrity threatens the livelihood of all other employees.

In this instance Fairfax needed to demonstrate to all – employees, stakeholders and shareholders- that they will aggressively defend their integrity. If they let Howe ‘get away with it’ they set an awful precedent for all others within the organisation.

By: Grant

Grant — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 22:38:59 +0000

@Cat – Maybe that’s why they fired him! He was too clever/good at his job…..At Fairfax they call it misconduct for showing up the Executive team.

By: Cat

Cat — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 22:33:48 +0000

So bad that he broke world headlines by printing the jelena dokic story when Sport & Style was only a few months old and other media companies had been chasing the story for years.

By: Mirko

Mirko — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 22:19:03 +0000

Worst editor ever. How he got the job in the first place, only Lisa Hudson knows.

By: Sam

Sam — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 21:50:54 +0000

Maybe Mr Howe was simply being prudent and preparing for life after Fairfax. Have you seen how thin Sport & Style is?

By: Grant

Grant — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 21:35:48 +0000

@Graham – If FF wanted their staff to know, then hold an internal meeting and discuss. Don’t announce in this forum.

It just seems that they have allowed one individual to get under their skin….This is a trait that should be admired….Nik’s CV is good, he’s done well launching the title, just pissed a few people off somewhere/somehow!

FF’s best approach would have been to leave it alone and provide “no comment” when asked for a reference by a potential future employer, or state “Nik’s moved on, We’ve moved on, there’s no more to it.”