High-res sarah-ball: This one time in 2009, I was certified an Ultimate Thinking Person Team Member by ad sales.  I know it was an accident, because this happened pretty much two seconds after I was hired.  They probably needed more girls, or something.  Still, I take secret pride in this. Not in my inclusion, but in the fact that my presence completely undermines—mocks, really!—the most hubristic house ad of all time. (Meanwhile, my parents have been not been as proud of any professional “achievement” since.) h/t to PEnright for this trip down memory lane. Sarah, you totally belong there.  The interesting thing to me, in looking at this somewhat arbitrary representation of the Newsweek staff as it was just a year ago, is how little Sidney Harman ended up getting when he bought Newsweek. Like all journalistic outlets, Newsweek is nothing but the product of the many talented individuals who worked there. If most of the people who make a publication what it is depart (only seven of the 21 people pictured here remain on Newsweek’s payroll today; less than that will be there by next year), is it really the same thing?  What does it profit a businessman if he gains a brand but loses all the people that made it? More and more it looks like what Harman got for agreeing to take on $40 million in obligations is simply a name.

sarah-ball:

This one time in 2009, I was certified an Ultimate Thinking Person Team Member by ad sales.  I know it was an accident, because this happened pretty much two seconds after I was hired.  They probably needed more girls, or something.  Still, I take secret pride in this. Not in my inclusion, but in the fact that my presence completely undermines—mocks, really!—the most hubristic house ad of all time.

(Meanwhile, my parents have been not been as proud of any professional “achievement” since.)

h/t to PEnright for this trip down memory lane.

Sarah, you totally belong there. 

The interesting thing to me, in looking at this somewhat arbitrary representation of the Newsweek staff as it was just a year ago, is how little Sidney Harman ended up getting when he bought Newsweek. Like all journalistic outlets, Newsweek is nothing but the product of the many talented individuals who worked there. If most of the people who make a publication what it is depart (only seven of the 21 people pictured here remain on Newsweek’s payroll today; less than that will be there by next year), is it really the same thing? 

What does it profit a businessman if he gains a brand but loses all the people that made it? More and more it looks like what Harman got for agreeing to take on $40 million in obligations is simply a name.

Notes

  1. akuat reblogged this from isiawashere and added:
    This might be a controversial position, but I’m happy to see some of the Newsweek greats go. I have tons of respect for...
  2. isiawashere reblogged this from markcoatney and added:
    Coatney’s insight is both profound and profoundly depressing. I know from my days as a college tour guide that the most...
  3. markcoatney reblogged this from sarah-ball and added:
    Sarah, you totally belong there. The interesting thing to me,...somewhat arbitrary...
  4. sarah-ball posted this