Is survival at all costs the new mantra for media companies?

I bumped into a talented media personality today, who informed me that he was leaving our small market, and a company he loves, for greater potential in the Big Apple. I'm happy for him, but at the same time it's kind of sad.

Early this week, I received a disenchanted comment on my recent blog post about the game be the only thing that really matters in life.  I was curious and concerned, so I reached out to Mr. "Casual Observer" via email.  Here's what he had to say, which is very revealing and an important message for all:

I'm a lifer in media. Or at least I was until recently. I hope I live to play another day.

The main concern of today's publicly held media companies is servicing their debt while struggling to achieve unrealistic financial goals composed late last year that failed to take into account the current economic chaos. No one foresaw the kind of year-to-year advertising collapse we're experiencing now and the resulting media shakeout has been savage with no sign of fading away anytime soon. Very few managers feel comfortable taking bold risks in an uncertain era. Fear of the unknown scares everyone. Fear of losing your job just adds gasoline to the fire.

Rather than empowering their employees to serve and entertain their audience and communities through energetic and open-minded collaboration, local management focuses excessively on delivering the near impossible and ever changing financial results demanded by their corporate direct reports. From their perch in the hot seat, the only way they see out is hacking away at marketing and R&D while laying off the very people needed to provide the product necessary to attract the audience they desire. Those left standing find their salaries cut and their workloads increased. Creativity and vigor go by the wayside and survival at all costs becomes the new mantra.

Very sad.

Posted May 7, 2009
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