Fired!
Freedom of the press and freedom of speech are supposed to be bosom buddies, marching arm-in-arm against censorship of ideas and opinion, guardians against government gagging. These are the heavies in the Bill of Rights. Not in South Beach, Florida. Not according to Ocean Drive Magazine, who fired a columnist, Trisha Posner, for appearing in a video objecting to a zoning loophole which allows nightclubs and bars to operate in the historic residential district where she lives.
Here’s what she said to get the pink slip:
I’m a journalist and columnist for Ocean Drive magazine. [My husband and I] can basically live anywhere, but we chose to live south of Fifth. When we came here we fell in love with the neighborhood. We work at home so we need the tranquility. We love the nightlife. We love the restaurants. As you can see, I’m standing in one of the hotels here now, the St. Augustine, where we come frequently on a Friday night for a drink. But we don’t want to be living in the middle of it.
[For the context, see the entire video here.]
That’s it. There was no flag burning, no picketing, no chanting of catchy slogans. Simply her opinion on a zoning issue—-pretty tame stuff. Not exactly riot inducing.
Reason Given for Firing
So what caused Ocean Drive to fire their columnist? Well, according to mediabistro, Ocean Drive Mag chairman and founder Jerry Powers was quoted as saying Ms. Posner was “not authorized to use the Ocean Drive name”. The Miami Herald reported Powers as saying:”You don’t use somebody’s logo”. [the OD logo did not appear in the video] Oh my! Are you kidding, Jerry? Trademark infringement? Powers pleaded ignorance of the video particulars: “I didn’t even know what the issue was. It was something about the development of restaurants and hotels.” Sounds like BS to us, Jerry.
Real Reason Appears to be Concern Over Ad Dollars
We think you fired her because she spoke out against a law affecting restaurants and bars, which group advertises in your magazine and you thought it might affect business. The termination of Posner’s services may be legal but it ain’t kosher, Jerry. Maybe there should be a zoning law on what constitutes “press” and Ocean Drive magazine should be booted out of the club. Your magazine can print editorial without fear because of the First Amendment. Now you choose to step on that underlying principle of our Constitution in order to collect an ad dollar and get a nice table with free drinks. No wonder print is loosing it’s credibility.
Magazine Bad Move? Firing Only Draws Attention to the Video
If you were indeed concerned about your bottom line, which is quite understandable (your magazine is more capitalist tool that Free Press anyway), you should have given thought to the timing and your reason for firing Posner. Your instant firing only served to draw media attention to the video and the zoning issue. Your excuse was just plain lame and makes the magazine look like they care more for money than their employees (which is your right. But consider PEOPLE buy your magazine. If they stop buying, advertisers don’t pay for your expensive ads). Bad moves, Jerry? If you weren’t the founder, you might have gotten booted if sales dropped.
A Happy Ending
The story does have a happy ending. Trisha landed a job with an OD competitor, Miami magazine, set to launch this week. Miami President is Leslie Wolfson, former Ocean Drive co-publisher. Ms. Wolfson worked for Jerry Powers for 10 years. Poetic justice?
[Author’s Note: This story carries the bias from my knowing Trisha Posner, and her husband Gerald, for over 25 years. As journalists and authors, they search for truth in order to share it for the benefit of others. They are generous to a fault, passionate over causes they believe in and honest beyond reproach. Both would gladly sacrifice their jobs for a worthwhile principle. ]
Further Reading (and publicity):
Ocean Writer Gets Deep-Sixed (NY Post)
It Doesn’t Pay to Have a Difference of Opinion (mediabistro.com:FishbowlNY)
Magazine to Resident: You’re Fired (The Sun Post, Miami)
Fired, Hired (Miami Herald)
Can a Journalist Have a Different Opinion than her Publisher? (Huffington Post, post by Gerald Posner)
Technorati Tags: Ocean Drive magazine, Trisha Posner, real estate video, zoning
Jerry Powers wasn’t taking any risks with his sponsors.
Seems that was the idea. But could he have done it another way? For example, he could have went public defending (explaining?) the law and saying Posner was not speaking on behalf of the magazine. That would have been the high road IMO.
By firing her, he not only brought attention, and possibly sympathy, toward the residents’ concerns, he might have made the magazine look foolish for giving such a lame excuse. The other columnists and employees of the magazine may not have gotten such a good feeling either, knowing their employer will not back up their right to voice an opinion that may not be in line with the corporate one (who even knows the company line on most issues?).
And I’m not sure the public, the ones who buy the magazine, were too pleased when one of their residents got fired.
Looking at it from the sponsor’s perspective– would they really refuse to advertise because Ocean Drive did not fire Posner? Advertising in the magazine is usually an economic decision– not a political one– especially when you’re talking about bars and restaurants. If the ads work (bring customers), they pay to advertise. I don’t see how the ads would attract less customers if Posner was still a columnist.
Poetic justice indeed!! I think the whole “taking a risk with sponsors” is weak - I’m sure she’ll do much better with Miami Magazine anyway.
South Beach is ruled by the “popular vote.” That PV is not dictated by what is right or wrong but what the “fabulous” ones deem it to be and that is always based on the dollar and “where the celebrities” hang out. Sounds vapid? Welcome to SoBe. Ahh the glamour.
Kevin, you know (and sell) SoBe. In your opinion, did Ocean Drive magazine side with the PV, which I assume is — let the bars come south of Fifth? If so, how does the firing play into that? Does the PV, the fabs and the vapids even care about Posner’s job with Ocean Drive? I miss the connection between the PV and the firing.
Many celebs and fabs are vapid but many are also socially conscious. Does OD get points for playing to the vapid rather than the virtuous? Would advertisers have punished OD if they did not fire her? Ahh the questions
Come on Kevin - the PV is not shallow….you know that better than me.
Good questions. I think that this is not really an issue of “siding” but more of an issue of not wanting to be involved with any sort of politics on either side.
Here is my opinion if anyone cares: I don’t think that there would have been an uproar if JP just let it go. Ocean Drive Magazine is a very powerful medium.
On one level I feel badly for Trisha; she lost a good gig. On another leveL she’s gotten a whole hell of a lot of press out of this. I mean come on—HUFFINTON POST, NY POST!!!
There are many glossies that try to compete with OD but, so far, no mag can. It will be an incredible coup if Miami monthly becomes a formidable competitor to Ocean Drive Magazine.
If Miami magazine has the Posners on their team, it has a decent chance against OD. Trisha comes from the music and fashion industry and she has tons of connections in the “fab” crowd. Gerald, aside from enjoying bestselling author status, is a dynamo who knows how to get things done. The guy has accomplished some amazing things and can get serious face time in MSM (he also writes for the Huffington Post). I’d hate to be on the other team against them and I’d bet the farm on Gerry P over Jerry P any day.
(PS> how do you think they got so much press?)
I’m holding a miami mag in my hands right now it and does have a long way to go, but I think it can happen. Great discussion guys, thanks for enlightening me.
I agree with you. I always wish everyone well. Yes, they are well-connected and wish Trisha well.
Are you guys ever gonna call me re: my email???