Thursday, June 11, 2009

Buzz Ball fired


GateHouse Media gave the boot to Carthage Press General Manager Buzz Ball today.

Callers to The Press this afternoon were told Buzz Ball was no longer at the newspaper. Though the news came suddenly, Ball's departure comes as no surprise to those who have watched his performance during his time in Carthage. GateHouse pushed Ron Graber out as Press general manager to preserve a job for Ball when Rick Rogers was put in charge of the Neosho Daily News, but Ball never adjusted to the move from his hometown newspaper.

After promising to move from Neosho to Carthage in his early columns in April and May of 2007, Ball never made the move and most of his columns were about Neosho, not Carthage, which rankled Press readers. It was never a good fit. Unfortunately, it took GateHouse management two years to figure that out.

No word yet on who will replace Ball.

10 comments:

T Rob said...

You mean promising to move to Carthage? He was already in Neosho, right?

Randy said...

Thanks for noticing that. It is fixed.

Anonymous said...

surely not another Randy journalistic mistake?...the world is coming to an end..is that the best his little brain trust can come up with? Another error!!!

Anonymous said...

Randy's just concerned about tonight's battle of the band. His left and right brains are battling, too!

Ron said...

I'd like to buy Buzz a sympathy/congratulations card, but I'm not sure Hallmark makes what I'm looking for.
Best wishes, Buzz.

Press Watchdog said...

I keep going to the Carthage Press website to read about the firing of Buzz Ball, but there's nothing there. If another business in Carthage dismissed its general manager, the Press would be all over it. Is this a double standard?

Anonymous said...

Buzz Ball was a great man and a honest Christian whose morals were second to none. I hope he lands on his feet. I truly do. There were few nicer men than Mr. Buzz. And to be honest, I don't like how you guys are kicking down a guy who can't defend himself.

Hoping for clarification said...

Randy, Buzz Ball was (or is) publisher of the Carthage Press, not general manager. The Carthage Press web site still lists Donald W. (Buzz) Ball as Publisher. That's of Saturday afternoon.

Why does everyone refer to Buzz as the general manager when the Press's own web site has him as publisher?

And if he has been fired, why hasn't the web site been updated?

Randy said...

I was surprised a couple of days ago when I checked the Press website and saw Buzz Ball listed as publisher. I don't believe it has always been listed that way and I don't know when it changed. As for him still being on the website, it does take a while for GateHouse to get its websites updated sometimes.

Anonymous said...

Gloria is the enemy.