Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
Virgil Smith worked as publisher of the Asheville Citizen-Times from 1996 through 2006, a time during which Smith led the newspaper through a number of changes and became an influential member of the local community.
In 2006, Smith was promoted to chairman of the Citizen-Times and was named vice president of talent management at Gannett Co., the local newspaper’s parent company. Smith’s name and title have consistently appeared in the daily newspaper.
But now, Smith’s name is no longer listed. Anybody know what’s going on? Does Smith still work for Gannett? The question from a loyal reader comes as thousands of Gannett employees await another round of job cuts.
Smith had a high profile within the company. If I remember correctly he was the first African-American publisher of a daily newspaper in North Carolina. Around Asheville, Smith sat on a number of civic boards and was highly involved in mentoring young people. Smith remains on the UNC Asheville Board of Trustees.
If anybody has an update on Virgil Smith, I’d like to hear it. I admired Virgil’s leadership at the newspaper and hope he’s doing well.
Here’s the announcement of Smith’s job change in September 2006:
McLEAN, VA – Virgil L. Smith today was named vice president of talent management at Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI) and promoted to chairman of the Asheville (NC) Citizen-Times, where he has been president and publisher since 1996.
Jeffrey P. Green, senior vice president of advertising and marketing for the Honolulu Advertiser, was named to replace Smith as president and publisher in Asheville. The appointments are effective immediately.
“Gannett is fortunate to have two such talented executives able to move into these key roles,” said Roxanne Horning, senior vice president of Human Resources. “Gannett’s corporate staff will be getting an experienced hand in Virgil, whose background and education are in Human Resources. Developing strategies for hiring and retaining talented employees is of the utmost importance to Gannett.”
“This is a win-win for the Asheville community and the Citizen-Times,” said Sue Clark-Johnson, president of the Gannett Newspaper Division. “Virgil is an important part of the community, and the newspaper can continue to rely on his expertise and knowledge. Jeff is an excellent leader with a diverse and wide-ranging background.”
Smith became president and publisher in Asheville in 1996 after five years at Gannett’s newspaper in Stockton, CA as assistant publisher, publisher and president. He also served as assistant to the senior group president of the Gannett Pacific Group.
Before joining Gannett, Smith worked at the Sacramento Bee in a number of positions including circulation manager and personnel director. In 1984, he moved to the Fresno Bee as director of consumer marketing and chief labor negotiator.
Smith has bachelor and master’s degrees from the University of San Francisco and served six years in the U.S. Army.
Here’s an announcement from September 2008 about a Gannett graduation ceremony involving Smith:
MCLEAN, Va.–(Business Wire)–
Gannett (NYSE:GCI) has graduated the second class of its
innovative and award-winning Talent Development Program, which
recruits, hires and trains top U.S. graduating college seniors
annually.
The program identifies candidates while they are still in college
and guides them through to pre-assigned jobs at Gannett operations
around the country.
The class of 31 was chosen from among 1,260 applications received
early in the year. The program participants then experienced a summer
of on-the-job training and mentoring in multiple disciplines at
Gannett sites around the country. A third class will be chosen next
spring from applications received beginning Oct. 20.
“The Talent Development Program is a win for everyone involved.
Gannett gains superior talent and the graduates receive a head start
on their preferred careers,” said Roxanne Horning, senior vice
president of human resources for Gannett. “We couldn’t be happier with
the result, not only with this year’s class but the continuing success
of our first graduating class.”
The program has consistently attracted top candidates in
journalism, multimedia, advertising and circulation, said Virgil
Smith, vice president of talent management for Gannett and the
program’s developer.
I love how people whine that it is reverse discrimination when a minority person assumes a leadership role. When I hear that, it has the underlying tone that only white males should rightfully lead an organization. I'm not going to mention that if you look at the directory for the Asheville Citizen-Times staff that is majority white (I should know, as a former employee there).
As for the rest of Ghost of Crhistmas Past's statement, I do agree that Gannett is a typical profit-hungry, greedy corporation littered by people looking to move on to other places. A lot of good that will do Ganett, though, as its stock price is barely above $10 per share and its inability to keep up with change (the industry is at least a decade bhind the curve with the shift in online media) hopefully will drive it out of business.
Virgil Smith was a reverse-discriminating, Affirmative Action corporate lackey promoted to his level of incompetence. Good riddance.
After the sale of the C-T to Gannett from Multimedia in the mid-90s, nearly all of the local management and editorial staff was forced out and corporate climbers with no sense of the local economy, culture, or news history flocked to Asheville with a carpet bag of MBA euphemisms as a stepping stone to bigger markets. News content began to serve the Agenda-Setting corporate philosophy of Gannett Corp. at the price of local institutional memory.
The Voice of the Mountains has long since been strangled by the country’s largest newspaper chain. Running things from Upstate S.C. isn’t going to give the staff more resources to devote to hard-hitting, objective, in-depth reporting by knowledgeable and experienced local journalists.
It makes one long for the days of privately owned, family run newspapers free of corporate shareholder demands for large profits. A newspaper of the local people, for the local people, by the local people.
I believe a smart move would be to eliminate the Advertising Directors position at the ACT and have someone at Greenville handle the emails that need to be read etc.
Seems like advertising will still be a little top heavy in Asheville after this round.
Does someone know why his name is no longer on the credit box? He was chairman until a couple of weeks ago. Why the change?
Virgil is a good man and felt empathy for his employees if he had to lay people off. This is a far cry from Hatchet Hammer’s glee in letting people go. Hammer’s approach to management is much like George W. He only has people around him that agree with him.
Does anyone count the bylines at this paper? I read that the newsroom is protected from layoffs. There were something like 8 bylines (besides sports) in today’s paper. I want a job where I only have to write a story a week. I like Tony Kiss but give me a break. The beer guy? Another job I would like. Getting paid a lot of money to drink.
Will the directors forego their large, hefty annual bonuses to say some jobs? I think not.
Gannett Blog post said it was a 19-year Adv. Graphic Designer that was let go, I’m sure there are many more to come. Looks like all Gannett papers are doing similar today & tomorrow.
From across the road: yes!
Cyn: Thank you! Hope you’re doing well!
anon: any more details on what’s going down?
md: thanks again!
I hear he has been "kicked to the curb" for early retirement or whatever the Gannett execs choose call it now. He was so much easier to work with than Randy "The Hammer" who was brought in simply to merge the C-T with the Greenville News.
I think we are quickly seeing the end of the C-T as the "Voice of the Mountains". It may soon be the "Voice of the Upstate and Western Carolina." Morale just can’t get any worse here. In case you haven’t noticed, the daily product is getting even weaker.
The recent price hike for newsstand sales has resulted in a huge decrease in daily circulation of the paper over the past month.
Mr. Smith is alive and well in McLean.
hearing on Gannett Blog that layoffs are underway at ACT, including some long-time employees, what a shame. Too bad a 25% proffit isn’t enough for the greedy bastards.
Hi Jason,
Virgil is no longer the Chairman of the AC-T. He is still with Gannett Co. as Vice President/Talent Management. You can reach him at [email protected].
If everyone at Gannett was as forward thinking as Virgil they would not be in the mess they are in.