OP-ED Davos offers insight on power shift
B
eyond the headlines made by would describe it more as ‘minds-on, Jeff Jarvis, editor of the media blog
heads of state and celebrity hands-off’ in that the CEO is always BuzzMachine.com, encouraged journal-
CEOs, The World Economic thinking about the priorities for the busi- ists to embrace the opportunities, saying:
Forum held last week in Davos, ness, but empowers others to execute.” “I think it is a mistake to define journal-
Switzerland, provided a wealth of insight The derision over CEO compensation ism by the person who does it. There are
for PR counselors as we advise manage- continued. One academic cited a recent many sources of news, and we need them
ment on the options and implications editorial cartoon in which one kid asks, all... the question is how do we enable it,
just ahead. The theme was “The Shifting “What do you want to be when you grow rather than own it.”
Power Equation,” reflecting the shift up?” and another kid answers, “A fired The editor of Bild, Europe’s largest daily
from developed to emerging economies, CEO.” The professor asked: “Why newspaper, feels “it is better to cannibal-
from institutions to individuals, from the ize yourself than to be cannibalized.” Re-
CEO to teams, and from owned media to flecting this, Bild has invited its 11.5
free content. Here are some opinions
and insights:
The editor of Bild million readers to post thousands of vi-
deos on its site, while its editors select the
Asserting that these transitions require feels “it is better most newsworthy and credible to run in
constant communication and a multi-lat- print.
eral, multi-stakeholder approach, to cannibalize An inspiring session on “Storytelling:
German Chancellor Angela Merkel cited Getting the Message Across,” under-
an African proverb, “If you want to go yourself than to be scored the importance of stories in an era
fast, travel alone; if you want go far, travel of information overload and CPA (con-
together.” cannibalized” tinuously partial attention). A professor
In a session titled “Beyond Web 2.0,” lamented, “We live in a sound-bitten
ironically some said there was too much shouldn’t executives feel the pain, as well world that defoliates anything close to a
reliance on technology. John Gage of Sun as the gain? Why shouldn’t we take some story.”
Microsystems said: “Sure, Google has all stock away if their performance is While agreeing, the president of an ad
the answers, but who has the questions? weak?” There was some agreement that agency recounted a debate between
You need people in your company who executives should be benchmarked Ernest Hemingway and Eugene O’Neill.
can ask the really important questions. against rolling sustainable profit over five O’Neill challenged the notion that a
And you better get the questions right.” years, not one. powerful story could be short.
At a panel on leadership in a networked In a session titled “Journalism is Dead, Hemingway then offered a six-word
world, one executive declared that “the Long Live the Journalist,” media leaders story as a compelling example: “For sale.
imperial CEO is dead” because ideas can were reminded not to overreact, with Baby shoes. Never worn.” ■
come from everywhere, not just the top. one German media leader saying, “We
Another CEO agreed that the days of the have to be careful not to commit suicide Rob Flaherty is senior partner, global prac-
hands-on, autocratic CEO are over. “I out of a fear of dying.” tices, at Ketchum.
Reprinted from February 5, 2007