08-24-2009 ATTACKS ON MIKE HENDRICKS UNFAIR, UNETHICAL How would you like to send an informal note in response to a job posting and have it posted on a nationwide blog site for ridicule? That's exactly what happened to veteran Kansas City Star columnist Mike Hendricks, who recently responded to an advertisement posted by Ogden Publications in Topeka for a Public Relations Specialist. (It should be noted earlier this year the Star reduced Hendricks to part-time status as part of its ongoing cost-saving efforts.) Ogden publishes a variety of magazines such as "Mother Earth News," "Natural Home" and "Good Things to Eat" among others. Hendricks sent an email to Ogden's contact person, Brandy Ernzen, attempting to determine if someone with his years of experience should bother to apply for the position. Obviously, with nearly three decades of experience if Ogden is looking for a recent college graduate it would be a waste of time for him to formally apply. Ernzen took Hendricks' initial note to her, her response and his follow-up note and sent it to a blog called "Bad Pitch Letters." (The site generally discusses bad pitch letters generally sent from PR practitioners to members of the media in the hope they will do a story on a client.) While Ernzen's name was taken off all correspondence, Hendricks' was not and he was ridiculed throughout the entire article for previous columns at the Star (including one where he took this site to task for errors in a story we wrote last year). There is no other way to put it than the action by both Ernzen and Bad Pitch is a huge breach of ethics and fairness. It is unbelievable in this day and age that confidential employment information sent in response to an advertisement is posted on the Internet. The Web site McClatchy Watch (LINK), which has been highly critical of the Kansas City Star and Mike Hendricks in the past noted: "Hendricks may be pompous, and he has made his share of enemies, but his treatment at Bad Pitch Blog seems abusive to me." We agree.
08-24-2009 COMMUNICATIONS SHOULD BE PRIVATE I agree with Kevin (McClatchy Watch). I admit I enjoyed reading the blog entry, but his email was clearly written in pursuit of a position, and such communications should be held private. I can tell you that were I a serious candidate for this position I would be reticent to submit any confidential information to these people for fear it might wind up on a blog somewhere. Indeed, let's assume this was some poor schmuck whose employer was not aware that they were job hunting. This could have led to the person terminated. I'm no lawyer, but I think Hendricks has a case here, and the bad PR is on the person who betrayed the confidentiality of a privileged communication. Let me add that there are clearly exceptions to the rule when people engage in misconduct. There's no hiding misconduct behind a facade of privacy. But, this was just a horrid attempt by someone who is slowly coming to grips with just how far he has fallen and is trying desperately to maintain some sense of dignity and yes it is sad.
FACETIOUS... "I agree that confidential job material should not be posted on the web. In this case, it couldn't have happened to a nicer guy. And, yes, I mean that facetiously."
08-25-2009 MOTHER EARTH NEWS This can be a real problem for Mother Earth News. When it gets out that the company who owns them treats job applicants like this who would want to send an application to them? I have never been a Mike Hendricks fan but the poor guy is trying to find a job for God's sake! I have been out of work for 9 months now and to see a job seeker treated this way enrages me. No way will I buy Mother Earth News again after this. I in fact wrote the publisher that I will no longer buy their products if this is how they treat people looking for work. I continue to be dismayed at the cold blooded callousness I see in people. The Bad Pitch blog people were just savage in their review of Mike's letters. Letters they knew should be confidential. They are some sorry SOB's. I hope Mike sues Ogden Publishing. While he is a public persona, this crossed a line and I bet he has an actionable legal case. This is also another example of how vile Tony's Kansas City blog can be in his attacks against people. He is helping to spread this venom which is just wrong. One of these days the lawyers will get him. He is wasting his talent. ---Gary Foster, Mission Ks
KEELHAULING NOT FAIR While I'm no fan of Mike Hendricks, he certainly doesn't deserve the keelhauling he got at the hands of both TKC and Ogden Communications. I looked at Ogden's Privacy Policy on their web page. Here's an excerpt of what's on there regarding who information is shared with. "Other than as set forth above, we do not share personally identifiable information with other companies" It's a rather lengthly page as well, mostly filled with 7 pt type, single spaced legalese about how communications with Ogden are handled. Certainly looks like they are in violation of their own policy. Situational ethics at its best. ---Michael Bushnell, [email protected]WHY DO THIS? Has anyone determined what was on this lady's mind and what could have possibly caused her to do this? Feckless though he might be, Hendricks didn't deserve this kind of public degradation. ----Inafunkaboutthefunk
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