Vickers relieves 6 top managers at Georgia net
Network director Claude Vickers (left) and Deputy Director James Lyle (Photo: GPB.)
Originally published in Current, Feb. 7, 2000
By Karen Everhart Bedford
The new head of Georgia Public Broadcasting on Jan. 27 [2000] abruptly fired six of the networks' top managers in a restructuring described locally as "Bloody Thursday." Claude Vickers, executive director of GPB for eight months, named four new division heads and retained only two members of the network's original leadership team.
Television director Kent Steele and Norman Bemelmans, director of Peach State Public Radio, both of whom worked at GPB for more than a decade, were dismissed. Barron Segar, whose development division achieved double-digit growth last year in three fundraising categories, also was fired. "I can only stand by my track record. We've just had our best year in 20 years," he said.
Bemelman's deputy, Marguerite Nutter, was let go "for no other reason than guilt by association with me," Bemelman said. "That was truly uncalled for." Larry Turcotte, assistant director of production, and Steve Smith, director of administrative services, were also dismissed.
"The organization was as dysfunctional as any organization I've been in," said Vickers. "From all the publicity that the financial situation has gotten over the past year, it's pretty obvious that people weren't keened to budgets or the bottom line. A number of individuals in the whole agency had a lot to do with that."
His new team includes Lisa Anne Gaston, a television producer and former executive of Turner Broadcasting, now GPB's director of corporate and member services; and John Hughes, a pubcasting consultant and former g.m. of Clark Atlanta University's television and radio operations, as head of Peach State Public Radio. Mike Klein, a 14-year veteran of CNN and former v.p. of news production, is director of local productions; Michael E. Nixon, a former parole officer and technology manager of Georgia's Board of Pardons and Paroles, is director of information technology. Vickers retained Al Korn, GPB's chief engineer for 13 years, and Janie Smith, director of educational services.
Vickers was the state's chief auditor this spring when an investigation by his office reported financial irregularities at GPB and a deficit then estimated at $7 million. After weeks of turmoil, GPB's ex-chief Werner Rogers was forced to step down, and Gov. Roy Barnes (D) requested the resignations of all members of the Georgia Public Telecommunications Commission (Current, June 7).
After the governors' appointees were sworn in as commission members, they immediately named Vickers executive director. Vickers also brought on Jim Lyle as his deputy, replacing Werner's number two, Frank Bugg.
"The staff as a whole had high hopes, optimism and enthusiasm when the new executive management team was put into place this spring," said Bemelman. But both Bemelman and Steele clashed with their new bosses over the editorial direction of the network and whether GPB was a public broadcasting outlet or "an arm of state government,"as Bemelman put it.
Short honeymoon
"There were some interesting editorial integrity discussions," commented Steele. "Based on what happened on Bloody Thursday, my stance on some of those issues obviously rubbed them the wrong way."
"He basically works for the governor, and if he's not working for the governor, he works for the Speaker of the House, the House Appropriations Committee chairman, or the Senate Appropriations Committee chairman," Steele said of Vickers. "I said, 'Our job is to work for the people of Georgia,' That's not the way they see it."
Two days prior to his dismissal, Bemelman spoke with Georgia Public Telecommunications Commissioner Linda Jordan about "concerns among staff and at the division director level about the prevailing managerial style and low morale," he recalled. He had begun to put his concerns in writing when he was summoned to Vickers' office on Jan. 27.
Jordan told Current that she informed GPT Commissioner Kim King about "the allegations," and declined to comment further. King was undergoing medical treatment last week and was not available to comment on behalf of the board.
Bemelman and other division directors also had objected to a directive from Gov. Barnes that all high-level state employees submit to background checks by state investigators. "It was pretty outrageous, and I thought quite possibly illegal," especially considering that it had not been an original condition of his employment with Peach State, Bemelman said. He openly questioned the directive's legality, and was warned by Vickers that a failure to cooperate could have repercussions. "I cannot help but feel that that was a factor in what has happened here."
"That had absolutely nothing to do with my decision," responded Vickers. "Every agency got the same request, and a couple division directors indicated they would not participate. I don't know who they were."
"I have not had one single bit of pressure on what to show or not show out here," Vickers commented, when questioned about GPB's editorial independence. "I have had some comments, but just as many of the same kind from nonpolitical figures."
"Personally, I think the politician has a right to an opinion, and to express it. They actually have some good ideas," he continued. "It has been stressed to me that they don't want to be involved, that they don't want to make those decisions."
Georgia's legislators have a history of leaning on GPB for controversial programs aired on its television network. In 1991, the late Dick Ottinger, then executive director, was summoned to testify before angry House appropriators about his decision to air "Tongues Untied"--the late Marlon Riggs' angry film expressing the experience of gay black men. Ottinger faced a similar confrontation with appropriators in 1994 over Tales of the City, an irreverent American Playhouse drama set in swinging San Francisco in the 1970s. Each time, GPB was threatened with state funding cuts.
Generous state funding
GPB's latest troubles started with its state-of-the-art-digital facility that was funded by the state, according to Steele. "When you accept that kind of money, you put yourself in a difficult situation. I'm not saying it can't be handled, but it's difficult."
The cost of the building and equipment totaled $45 million, and was largely financed by state lottery proceeds. GPB also received state monies for its educational services division, which operates a satellite transponder with 2,200 downlinks to schools, libraries, universities and technical colleges throughout Georgia.
Vickers has made considerable progress in allaying legislators' concerns about financial accountability at GPB. "I've been in front of the legislature twice, and the reception has been excellent."
Within a few weeks, Vickers expects appropriators to approve his request for $6.1 million to pay off GPB's operating deficit, and another $2 million to begin converting the network's educational programming to a digital format.
He's also asked legislators to appropriate $18.2 million for general obligation bonds to finance the digital conversion of GPB's nine television transmitters. "With the full amount of bonds in hand, we can go forward with a bid for all nine transmitters at one time for a staged construction," he explained. Until it receives the federal contribution toward its conversion, GPB could hold back some of the bonds, selling only the amount it needs to complete the construction.
In talking with GPB employees after the dismissals, Vickers has found "a number are willing to withhold judgment," he said. "Everybody is concerned about their personal situation, but many expressed support and optimism about the future."
"I am cautiously optimistic that things are going to be better," he continued, before correcting himself: "I am certain things are going to get better."
Earlier news: State audit finds financial problems, auditor succeeds GPB director, June 1999.
Outside link: Georgia networks' web site.
Web page created Feb. 7, 2000
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