Saturday, February 10, 2007
The Corporation, the Press, and the President
A few days ago, after the Lampoon folks sent around a joke e-mail announcing a new Harvard president, I half-seriously posed the question of whether the search was becoming a joke. The Corporation needs to wrap this up, I said. Soon.
Some of you got on me for that, saying that I was over-reacting, it was just the Lampoon, etc. Perhaps my "joke" characterization was overly strong.
But, in fact, the Corporation agreed with me that to wait very long would be to let Faust twist in the wind, and so it did not wait very long.
Moreover, the way the news of Faust's selection has broken is not exactly confidence-inspiring. The Crimson and Globe get it three days before the official announcement. The Times runs its big piece on Saturday morning—which, any media type will tell you, is the worst possible time to disclose news you want to get a lot of attention.
By Monday, the news elements of the story will be secondary, and the analysis—why was she chosen? Is she up to the job? etc.—will be the stories in that day's newspapers. That could not be what the Corporation wanted. I don't usually agree with the Corporation's obsession with secrecy, but if you're going to insist that the process is secret, don't blow it days before your big surprise announcement.
I gather that Faust held a bizarre press conference at Penn yesterday, at which she refused to answer any questions. At least one reporter covering the Harvard story for a major newspaper was seriously irritated by that.... Why hold a press conference if you're not actually going to answer any questions? It looks like amateur hour.
The media management has not been well done so far, and it has diminished some of the luster of Faust's announcement. (And as I've told several reporters, I do think that the appointment of a woman to head Harvard is important. Sure, there are other female Ivy League presidents. But who in China or India has ever heard of Brown?)
No one can say if this bungling will matter in the long run. But it's certainly not the way the Corporation would have liked this process to unfold and suggests once again that, for the second straight time, a clandestine search process has hit major hurdles.....
Drew Faust at Bryn Mawr yesterday.
Some of you got on me for that, saying that I was over-reacting, it was just the Lampoon, etc. Perhaps my "joke" characterization was overly strong.
But, in fact, the Corporation agreed with me that to wait very long would be to let Faust twist in the wind, and so it did not wait very long.
Moreover, the way the news of Faust's selection has broken is not exactly confidence-inspiring. The Crimson and Globe get it three days before the official announcement. The Times runs its big piece on Saturday morning—which, any media type will tell you, is the worst possible time to disclose news you want to get a lot of attention.
By Monday, the news elements of the story will be secondary, and the analysis—why was she chosen? Is she up to the job? etc.—will be the stories in that day's newspapers. That could not be what the Corporation wanted. I don't usually agree with the Corporation's obsession with secrecy, but if you're going to insist that the process is secret, don't blow it days before your big surprise announcement.
I gather that Faust held a bizarre press conference at Penn yesterday, at which she refused to answer any questions. At least one reporter covering the Harvard story for a major newspaper was seriously irritated by that.... Why hold a press conference if you're not actually going to answer any questions? It looks like amateur hour.
The media management has not been well done so far, and it has diminished some of the luster of Faust's announcement. (And as I've told several reporters, I do think that the appointment of a woman to head Harvard is important. Sure, there are other female Ivy League presidents. But who in China or India has ever heard of Brown?)
No one can say if this bungling will matter in the long run. But it's certainly not the way the Corporation would have liked this process to unfold and suggests once again that, for the second straight time, a clandestine search process has hit major hurdles.....
Drew Faust at Bryn Mawr yesterday.
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"But, in fact, the Corporation agreed with me that to wait very long would be to let Faust twist in the wind, and so it did not wait very long."
As the commenter who first called you out for attempting to draw legitimate insight from the Lampoon prank, let me call you out again. The Corporation agreed with you? Early February was the committee's target from the beginning.
Do you understand why, despite some respect for "Harvard Rules," I and other readers of your blog get the sense that you often find find fault without cause? The search's timing was on-target from start to finish. The potential candidates were the same from Day One. The process was even more secretive than last time (there were no stories about finalists' interviews).
That's why you have to forgive us when we assume that if Faust had hidden herself from public view yesterday or brushed past reporters with a brusque "no comment," you'd be lambasting her today for looking like "amateur hour."
As the commenter who first called you out for attempting to draw legitimate insight from the Lampoon prank, let me call you out again. The Corporation agreed with you? Early February was the committee's target from the beginning.
Do you understand why, despite some respect for "Harvard Rules," I and other readers of your blog get the sense that you often find find fault without cause? The search's timing was on-target from start to finish. The potential candidates were the same from Day One. The process was even more secretive than last time (there were no stories about finalists' interviews).
That's why you have to forgive us when we assume that if Faust had hidden herself from public view yesterday or brushed past reporters with a brusque "no comment," you'd be lambasting her today for looking like "amateur hour."
First, I didn't lambaste her, I lambasted the way everything has been handled. There's a big difference.
Second, you will forgive a little bit of self-aware hyperbole in my writing "the Corporation agreed with me." Come, now—just as with the Lampoon citation, not everything is meant to be read quite so literally. (I"m guessing you are not a humanist.) I mean, did you really think I took the Lampoon prank seriously—or just symbolically?
In any case, the Corporation clearly did feel that to let the process go on much longer would be damaging to DF. Frankly, I just got off the phone with a Harvard source who thinks the fact that this wasn't announced *last* weekend already took some of the luster of the announcement. So clearly, I'm not alone in making this case.
The search process was more secretive than before? I think that's highly questionable. Heck, one of the final two publicly withdrew his name. Something went wrong there. Heck, the identity of the next president is known to the world days before the Corporation would like to announce it. Something went wrong there too.
And third, here's what Faust could have done: Stopped, graciously said to reporters that she appreciated their interest, but of course she couldn't comment on the process, because even if she were to be the next president of Harvard, that decision is up to the Corporation and the Board of Overseers, which is meeting over the weekend. And since she respects Harvard and its time-tested tradition of choosing presidents, it would be inappropriate for her to comment on those matters whether it's she or anyone else who's going to be president. Thanks very much for your interest, though, and now, it's time for all of us to get out of the cold.
That was easy, no?
Instead: "No comment." (Something for which I don't blame her, by the way; someone should have prepped her.) But...please. Who says "no comment" anymore, other than a perp walking down the steps of a courthouse?
So I respect your criticism, but so far haven't heard much to convince me I'm wrong. As I say, I'm open to the possibility; this is just a blog, not a work of scholarship or even a magazine story, and sure, in this forum I make mistakes all the time. But on this, I'm holding my ground until you show me a little more than you have so far.
Second, you will forgive a little bit of self-aware hyperbole in my writing "the Corporation agreed with me." Come, now—just as with the Lampoon citation, not everything is meant to be read quite so literally. (I"m guessing you are not a humanist.) I mean, did you really think I took the Lampoon prank seriously—or just symbolically?
In any case, the Corporation clearly did feel that to let the process go on much longer would be damaging to DF. Frankly, I just got off the phone with a Harvard source who thinks the fact that this wasn't announced *last* weekend already took some of the luster of the announcement. So clearly, I'm not alone in making this case.
The search process was more secretive than before? I think that's highly questionable. Heck, one of the final two publicly withdrew his name. Something went wrong there. Heck, the identity of the next president is known to the world days before the Corporation would like to announce it. Something went wrong there too.
And third, here's what Faust could have done: Stopped, graciously said to reporters that she appreciated their interest, but of course she couldn't comment on the process, because even if she were to be the next president of Harvard, that decision is up to the Corporation and the Board of Overseers, which is meeting over the weekend. And since she respects Harvard and its time-tested tradition of choosing presidents, it would be inappropriate for her to comment on those matters whether it's she or anyone else who's going to be president. Thanks very much for your interest, though, and now, it's time for all of us to get out of the cold.
That was easy, no?
Instead: "No comment." (Something for which I don't blame her, by the way; someone should have prepped her.) But...please. Who says "no comment" anymore, other than a perp walking down the steps of a courthouse?
So I respect your criticism, but so far haven't heard much to convince me I'm wrong. As I say, I'm open to the possibility; this is just a blog, not a work of scholarship or even a magazine story, and sure, in this forum I make mistakes all the time. But on this, I'm holding my ground until you show me a little more than you have so far.
The Harvard Crimson and The Boston Globe got the story in advance of an official announcement because any number of sources, two in particular it would seem, have regularly, and willfully compromised the confidentiality and integrity of the search process by willfully discussing the process with them, if but anonymously.
It begs the question then: who are these sources, and what is their motivation to "spill the beans?"
What if the sources are from within the Corporation or Board of Overseers themselves, and hypothetically, if this is the case, how does this reflect upon the University?
It begs the question then: who are these sources, and what is their motivation to "spill the beans?"
What if the sources are from within the Corporation or Board of Overseers themselves, and hypothetically, if this is the case, how does this reflect upon the University?
If by "press conference" you mean being hounded by reporters at the Bryn Mawr trustees meeting and not saying anything then yes she had a press conference. But I don't think that counts.
4:56 pm: Do you understand why, despite some respect for your obviously educated though lacking in the ability to understand a "little bit of self aware hyperbole" in Richard's writing, which even little old uneducated me catches, I and other aders of Richard's blog get the sense that you often find fault without cause? I'll go you one further. Richard pointed out how Ms. Faust could have handled the press conference, meeting of trustees, I don't care whatever it was the reporters were at. He is absolutely right...and you know what, he was too kind. Do you know what I expect from Harvard educated people...and especially possibly the next President of Harvard...lots. He said he didn't blame her for saying nothing...that she should have been prepped. I'm sorry. The possible? probable? next President of Harvard should have known how to handle reporters the way Richard described without being prepped by anybody.
4:56 pm: Do you understand why, despite some respect for your obviously educated though lacking in the ability to understand a "little bit of self aware hyperbole" in Richard's writing, which even little old uneducated me catches, I and other aders of Richard's blog get the sense that you often find fault without cause? I'll go you one further. Richard pointed out how Ms. Faust could have handled the press conference, meeting of trustees, I don't care whatever it was the reporters were at. He is absolutely right...and you know what, he was too kind. Do you know what I expect from Harvard educated people...and especially possibly the next President of Harvard...lots. He said he didn't blame her for saying nothing...that she should have been prepped. I'm sorry. The possible? probable? next President of Harvard should have known how to handle reporters the way Richard described without being prepped by anybody.
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