Posted on 05/24/2010 9:41:32 PM PDT by Gigantor
MSM Cowers, ABC News Execs Hunker As Whistleblowers Atttack the Odious Mimi
These postings are just astonishing. Sort of a truth and reconciliation panel. Who knew a week ago when this started that so much truth--and pain, anger, anguish and sadly vitriol--would come forth.
There are many out there who would love to add their facts but are refraining because they still work at ABC News or in the industry. But all who read say the same thing - "it's about f____ time. Maybe this sickness will finally stop and Mimi will get what she's been giving so many for sooo many years......embarrassment and humiliation. "
You are all so myopic. You are not losing audience share due to vile Mimi, petty Mini-Mimi's, incompetent Westin or lazy Westin-wanna-be's. You are collectively going down the tubes because of your lack of discipline, obvious bias and insistence on presenting advocacy journalism as Real News. Your advertising revenues are down, and shareholder value is tanking, because you allow your prejudices to overcome anything resembling actual reportage. If you even know what the phrase 'actual reportage' means.
The odious Mimi Gurbst deserves every thing this forum has delivered. Her bad behavior was full blown long before David Westin so blaming him is off target. I knew Mimi, and suffered for it, during the Arledge-Gralnick-Bob Murphy days. They knew about her, protected her and in many ways were co-conspirators.
As a former ABC News writer and producer (from the pre-Westin era ) I'm transfixed by this thread. Just for historical perspective, even in my day, ABC had a toxic undertow which Roone worsened--enabling bullying behavior by macho MALE executive producers. I think Mimi had plenty of negative role models to emulate....
So the sickness in the organization goes further back than some may realize. I'm reminded of John Dean's description of a cancer growing on the presidency (Watergate Tape 03/21/1973). "It's growing daily. It's compounding. It grows geometrically now, because it compounds itself," he told Nixon.
Has this cancer KILLED ABC News? Are other news organizations similarly tainted?
I am astonished by the meager coverage this story is getting. Journalists must be really afraid and Disney must be really powerful. What is going on? Is this a legacy of the Bush years, the rise of corporate fascism or what? Also intrigued that there are NO photos of Mimi G. on Google Images.
Disney didn't kill ABC. Greed and hubris and selective ignorance of bad, bad people in positions of power and an outrageous lack of respect for those who bust their asses every day did.
she should examine the outcry from so many - these are not comments from one or two disgruntled staffers but from how many? 10? 20? 30? I remember when ABC was plainning a black correspondents dinner - Mimi made a comment to Carole Simpson, overheard by everyone on the desk suggesting that the main course be fried chicken. If I remember correctly she was forced to apologize. She should have been fired right then and there! She'd be better off training pit bulls than being a guidance counselor to high school teens. Good luck to you Mimi. Get on your broom you witch and fly far away.
And while so much has been written about Mimi Gurbst, how can we possible overlook the notoriously fierce temper of Jeffrey Schneider. By allowing his public relations VP to regularly scream and berate others, Westin is sending out a message: it’s OK to behave unprofessionally if you are part of my small, protected circle. Complaints to Diane in H.R. are pointless; never has she so much as lifted a pen to take notes.
At Disney Headquarters ABC's news division is seen as a pack of unruly, nasty folks barely controlled by David Westin with Ms. Gurbst as the prime example but not really that distinctive from all the others. For years David has been told to get his people in order and failed or refused. Mimi does have a personal relationship with the Igers, particularly Mrs. Iger, which she has shamelessly flaunted over the years and played a part in her protection. There were so many nasty things Mimi did for her inner circle of acolytes and generally they rose through the ranks, not because they were better at their jobs but because Mimi pushed them and pushed over anyone who may have been in the path of one of her chosen few. I'm sure a number of them reading this post feel a little ashamed they are where they are and what they had to do to cater to this evil woman. Or perhaps they don't. And I'm glad Mimi has been outted!
The way Mimi rose to power as explained by an earlier poster is completely true!! By her knowing Bob Murphy was gay she used this for years to rise through the ranks and push her inner circle. It is --sick-- what she did!! Finally, a flood of truth. What ABC News has needed for so long. The departure of this hateful and arrogant woman who wouldn't know talent unless it showed up in Hermes touting Harvard credentials, is finally revealing both the anachronistic cabal ABC has sheltered -- AND the true lack of vision these cronies have perpetuated. As someone who worked at the news division for many years, I saw first-hand how she belittled all the other shows, and hampered any effort to work collectively, as a network, across all platforms. Thankfully, I was only exposed to her during occasional meetings, where she would openly make fun of correspondents and whisper on the side to her "mean girls". It's too bad ABC News had to essentially flush itself down the toilet before it could remove this woman.
these comments would never have surfaced if the New York Observer's "reporter" had done his job and reported instead of releasing a press release. Mimi Gurbst's career has been defined by character assassination and petty revenge. No one called Mimi during her 20 year reign of terror because they knew nothing would be done...and that they would pay the political price. All the ABC employees - past and present - are unwilling to put their names to these comments because they are still fearful of the political repercussions of exposing her...even at this point in her career.
Sometimes people can't stomach the nauseating lies anymore. And that is why they've stepped forward in this forum to expose the truth...in any way that they can.
Although this commentary must cause pain to Mimi, it only reveals the depth of frustration, anger, humiliation and destruction that she left in the wake of her unfettered abuse of power.
I have read all eight pages of comments with much interest. The whole story is surreal. I have so many questions. They are not rhetorical, and I will work on finding answers. Hundreds of journalists have witnessed gross abuse for decades and remained silent. At least in the last ten years, why haven't they use social media and their professional skills to break the story much earlier? Or maybe they have?
Hundreds of journalists have witnessed Very Bad Things (TM) happening to the quality of their product through daily decisions of their superiors. Where has this story been till now?
How can viewers trust news from journalists who agreed to submit to abuse, silently witnessed abuse of others, and followed directives that compromised the quality of their work?
At network level, television news is dirty dog eat dog.
I got enough crap when I worked at the local television news level.
None of this stuff surprises me.
I read years ago that the producers at ABC had a name for Barbara Walters that rhymes with “itch.”
This is very interesting to read, thanks for the post/article.
This is so disappointing.
Submitted by MiltonWaddams on Mon, 05/24/2010 - 23:27.
I believe sh-sh-she took my stapler and-and-and she never brought it back...
Most of the posts are gone, but check this out:
Unless each and every one of you is willing to come out from behind the comfort and safety of anonymity, stop the nonsense. You cannot assassinate someone’s character like this and not pay a price.
In the case of the NY Observer, I should think their attorney has already advised that these posts be taken down. No matter how hideous the alleged behavior of this person(whom I do not know) the cowardly conduct of the posters is worse.
Use your real names to make comments of this magnitude or don’t bother. Shame on you!
Ted David, Correspondent
ABC News Radio 1978-1986
A demand that people use their real names when they are complaining of vendettas is, well, just plain sick.
Hey, Ted... how many “anonymous sources” did YOU use?
I don't think so. There are 241 posts. You have to scroll down to the bottom and then click on the link for "first" to begin at the top.
-PJ
There was also a good one from a "consumer" who chastised them for their holier-than-thou attitude as the "fourth branch of government" when their own office was in such disarray and they all feared for their careers.
-PJ
AAAHHHHHHH!!!! MY EYES!!!!
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