Comments on: John Fahey: “Internal Values” http://societymatters.org/2010/02/26/john-fahey-internal-values/ How the National Geographic Society could create a new blueprint for journalism Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:49:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Alan Mairson http://societymatters.org/2010/02/26/john-fahey-internal-values/comment-page-1/#comment-779 Alan Mairson Sat, 27 Feb 2010 01:47:32 +0000 http://societymatters.org/?p=3730#comment-779 In my time at NGS, I found most of my colleagues were (as you say) collaborative & collegial. The problems arise when the business stops growing, and elbows start flying. Re: your idea about anonymous 360 degree views — that's tricky because it invites more nastiness, not less. Of course, you're an exception, Calico Jack — we don't know who you are, and your comments are thoughtful & civil. But read most any blog & you realize: Anonymous commenting can degenerate into a food fight, and fast. While I applaud John for trying to cultivate healthy "internal values," it won't matter much unless he also has an "internal plan": How is our Society going to avoid the media meltdown that's now underway? Without an answer to that question, then all this "values" talk will only produce a well-behaved, very civil group of passengers who won't scream & claw at each other as the ship continues to take on water through that gaping hole in the hull. Thanks for writing, CJ. (Hey - do you know Carto Joe, who is another commenter here at Society Matters? You guys have the same monogram. :-) ) In my time at NGS, I found most of my colleagues were (as you say) collaborative & collegial. The problems arise when the business stops growing, and elbows start flying.

Re: your idea about anonymous 360 degree views — that’s tricky because it invites more nastiness, not less. Of course, you’re an exception, Calico Jack — we don’t know who you are, and your comments are thoughtful & civil. But read most any blog & you realize: Anonymous commenting can degenerate into a food fight, and fast.

While I applaud John for trying to cultivate healthy “internal values,” it won’t matter much unless he also has an “internal plan”: How is our Society going to avoid the media meltdown that’s now underway? Without an answer to that question, then all this “values” talk will only produce a well-behaved, very civil group of passengers who won’t scream & claw at each other as the ship continues to take on water through that gaping hole in the hull.

Thanks for writing, CJ. (Hey – do you know Carto Joe, who is another commenter here at Society Matters? You guys have the same monogram. :-) )

]]> By: Alan Mairson http://societymatters.org/2010/02/26/john-fahey-internal-values/comment-page-1/#comment-2087 Alan Mairson Sat, 27 Feb 2010 01:47:00 +0000 http://societymatters.org/?p=3730#comment-2087 In my time at NGS, I found most of my colleagues were (as you say) collaborative & collegial. The problems arise when the business stops growing, and elbows start flying. Re: your idea about anonymous 360 degree views — that's tricky because it invites more nastiness, not less. Of course, you're an exception, Calico Jack — we don't know who you are, and your comments are thoughtful & civil. But read most any blog & you realize: Anonymous commenting can degenerate into a food fight, and fast. While I applaud John for trying to cultivate healthy "internal values," it won't matter much unless he also has an "internal plan": How is our Society going to avoid the media meltdown that's now underway? Without an answer to that question, then all this "values" talk will only produce a well-behaved, very civil group of passengers who won't scream & claw at each other as the ship continues to take on water through that gaping hole in the hull. Thanks for writing, CJ. (Hey - do you know Carto Joe, who is another commenter here at Society Matters? You guys have the same monogram. :-) ) In my time at NGS, I found most of my colleagues were (as you say) collaborative & collegial. The problems arise when the business stops growing, and elbows start flying.

Re: your idea about anonymous 360 degree views — that’s tricky because it invites more nastiness, not less. Of course, you’re an exception, Calico Jack — we don’t know who you are, and your comments are thoughtful & civil. But read most any blog & you realize: Anonymous commenting can degenerate into a food fight, and fast.

While I applaud John for trying to cultivate healthy “internal values,” it won’t matter much unless he also has an “internal plan”: How is our Society going to avoid the media meltdown that’s now underway? Without an answer to that question, then all this “values” talk will only produce a well-behaved, very civil group of passengers who won’t scream & claw at each other as the ship continues to take on water through that gaping hole in the hull.

Thanks for writing, CJ. (Hey – do you know Carto Joe, who is another commenter here at Society Matters? You guys have the same monogram. :-) )

]]> By: Calico Jack http://societymatters.org/2010/02/26/john-fahey-internal-values/comment-page-1/#comment-778 Calico Jack Sat, 27 Feb 2010 01:28:43 +0000 http://societymatters.org/?p=3730#comment-778 All nice thoughts, and you'll find them practiced by certain individuals in certain divisions. Actually, I've found more people than not are collaborative, work well across divisions, and keep the mission foremost in mind. But everyone knows business unit heads who build empires and protect turf. And as long as they are financially incentivized to do so it will continue. Some of those turf battles occur in John's office, so it's not like he's unaware there's a problem. I think anonymous 360 degree reviews for managers might be helpful. And there are a couple of business unit heads who are notorious for not respecting their colleagues and reports, and for verbal abuse. This also must be no secret to John, yet those individuals continue to thrive at NGS. All nice thoughts, and you’ll find them practiced by certain individuals in certain divisions. Actually, I’ve found more people than not are collaborative, work well across divisions, and keep the mission foremost in mind. But everyone knows business unit heads who build empires and protect turf. And as long as they are financially incentivized to do so it will continue. Some of those turf battles occur in John’s office, so it’s not like he’s unaware there’s a problem. I think anonymous 360 degree reviews for managers might be helpful. And there are a couple of business unit heads who are notorious for not respecting their colleagues and reports, and for verbal abuse. This also must be no secret to John, yet those individuals continue to thrive at NGS.

]]> By: Calico Jack http://societymatters.org/2010/02/26/john-fahey-internal-values/comment-page-1/#comment-2086 Calico Jack Sat, 27 Feb 2010 01:28:00 +0000 http://societymatters.org/?p=3730#comment-2086 All nice thoughts, and you'll find them practiced by certain individuals in certain divisions. Actually, I've found more people than not are collaborative, work well across divisions, and keep the mission foremost in mind. But everyone knows business unit heads who build empires and protect turf. And as long as they are financially incentivized to do so it will continue. Some of those turf battles occur in John's office, so it's not like he's unaware there's a problem. I think anonymous 360 degree reviews for managers might be helpful. And there are a couple of business unit heads who are notorious for not respecting their colleagues and reports, and for verbal abuse. This also must be no secret to John, yet those individuals continue to thrive at NGS. All nice thoughts, and you’ll find them practiced by certain individuals in certain divisions. Actually, I’ve found more people than not are collaborative, work well across divisions, and keep the mission foremost in mind. But everyone knows business unit heads who build empires and protect turf. And as long as they are financially incentivized to do so it will continue. Some of those turf battles occur in John’s office, so it’s not like he’s unaware there’s a problem. I think anonymous 360 degree reviews for managers might be helpful. And there are a couple of business unit heads who are notorious for not respecting their colleagues and reports, and for verbal abuse. This also must be no secret to John, yet those individuals continue to thrive at NGS.

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