Debra Adams Simmons, the Plain Dealer editor who has (technically) presided over the most tumultuous era in the newspaper’s history, is leaving her post. The PD’s Rachel Dissell tweeted this out Friday morning:
PD Editor Debra Adams Simmons leaving to be the VP of News Development at Advance Publications (which owns the PD.)
— Rachel Dissell (@RachelDissell) April 4, 2014
And the follow-up:
Simmons told PD-ers she will work to ensure a commitment to public service journalism and be a bridge between digital and in print.
— Rachel Dissell (@RachelDissell) April 4, 2014
Simmons has been virtually invisible to the public during her reign since October, 2010. She co-authored a letter to readers on November 18, 2012 with Publisher Terry Egger about the dramatic paradigm shift (staff cuts, home delivery cuts) with all the typical corporate mumbo-jumbo about “better positioning for the future” and “making bold moves” and “capitalizing on dynamic changes,” etc.
If she ever really engaged the readership in a public (or even private) way, Scene isn’t aware of it.
She’ll now continue working to bridge the gap between digital and print with the villains at Advance, who yesterday announced significant staff cuts at the Star-Ledger in New Jersey.
No news, yet, regarding a replacement or more changes to the bonkers staffing structure. It’s not like the PD really even needs an editor these days.
This article appears in Apr 2-8, 2014.
She performed her job well — greasy smile always on the face, while napalming staffing levels and protecting, awarding the sordid roster of empty suits – and is being rewarded with a neat step up the corporate ladder.
I have watched – for two short stints inside and for many years outside,
but I believe today’s Plain Dealer, with some few exceptions,
is so mediocre as to not be missed if it published once a week.
Roldo Bartimole
Who cares? Don’t let the door hit you in your booty on the way upstairs, Uncle Thomasina…or should that be Aunty?
Chuckles the Clown
I don’t buy newspapers. Where do you expect the money to run the PD is supposed to come from?
So, she sat up when told to, jumped through all the hoops, and clapped when asked to. As a reward for being a good little circus seal, they threw her a fish and promoted her. Ah, how wonderful. I’m glad she didn’t have to do anything like “a good job” in order to be promoted, because the PD is obviously in better position now at the end of her tenure than it was at the beginning.