Comments on: Brian Duffy was fired, escorted out of building http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2008/12/08/brian-duffy-was-fired-escorted-out-of-building/ The source for industry news for the professional cartoonist Sun, 12 Feb 2012 00:54:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Bill Nelson http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2008/12/08/brian-duffy-was-fired-escorted-out-of-building/#comment-96701 Bill Nelson Sun, 22 Aug 2010 07:36:32 +0000 http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2008/12/08/brian-duffy-was-fired-escorted-out-of-building/#comment-96701 I freelanced at the San Jose Mercury News, working with Joan Jackson, Garden Section editor. She called one day to tell me I'd been axed by a higher up. She was gracious enough to give me the higher up's name and number, but advised me against calling them. The call went like this: Anne Hearst: "You aren't funny, you're not sophisticated and you don't add anything to this paper." Me: "But I don't understand. I've been drawing for the paper for some time." Anne Hearst: "Didn't you hear me? You aren't funny, you're not sophisticated and you don't add anything to this paper!!" Me: "But..." Anne Hearst: SLAM goes the phone After successfully designing two LCD hand held games for Sega of America (I'm told they earned $250,000,000) I was unceremoniously ordered not to remain for the usual Wednesday project meeting and not to show up "unless requested". Shortly thereafter I received a curt letter demanding return of all project materials and stating I had "not provided art and designs as required by contract." The games were released to the public with my art and game play layout. The corporate world is greedy and sucks big time. I taught Computer Graphics and Multimedia at Sonoma State University. In 2003, after preparing all summer for the Fall semester, I got an email five days before the semester started, stating my services were "not required for the Fall semester." Gee, thanks. The Corporate world does not have a lock on rudeness. I freelanced at the San Jose Mercury News, working with Joan Jackson, Garden Section editor. She called one day to tell me I’d been axed by a higher up. She was gracious enough to give me the higher up’s name and number, but advised me against calling them.

The call went like this:
Anne Hearst: “You aren’t funny, you’re not sophisticated and you don’t add anything to this paper.”

Me: “But I don’t understand. I’ve been drawing for the paper for some time.”

Anne Hearst: “Didn’t you hear me? You aren’t funny, you’re not sophisticated and you don’t add anything to this paper!!”

Me: “But…”

Anne Hearst: SLAM goes the phone

After successfully designing two LCD hand held games for Sega of America (I’m told they earned $250,000,000) I was unceremoniously ordered not to remain for the usual Wednesday project meeting and not to show up “unless requested”. Shortly thereafter I received a curt letter demanding return of all project materials and stating I had “not provided art and designs as required by contract.” The games were released to the public with my art and game play layout. The corporate world is greedy and sucks big time.

I taught Computer Graphics and Multimedia at Sonoma State University. In 2003, after preparing all summer for the Fall semester, I got an email five days before the semester started, stating my services were “not required for the Fall semester.”
Gee, thanks. The Corporate world does not have a lock on rudeness.

]]> By: Robert Hodges http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2008/12/08/brian-duffy-was-fired-escorted-out-of-building/#comment-80138 Robert Hodges Sat, 28 Feb 2009 01:13:58 +0000 http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2008/12/08/brian-duffy-was-fired-escorted-out-of-building/#comment-80138 I Can Understand Big Corporations doing that, when you fire someone you don't want them to get revenge by doing something after they are fired. But it seems to me that He could not have done anything to hurt the reputation, any more than they did by firing him?? I Can Understand Big Corporations doing that, when you fire someone you don’t want them to get revenge by doing something after they are fired.

But it seems to me that He could not have done anything to hurt the reputation, any more than they did by firing him??

]]> By: Elaine Hood http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2008/12/08/brian-duffy-was-fired-escorted-out-of-building/#comment-78353 Elaine Hood Sun, 14 Dec 2008 22:15:00 +0000 http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2008/12/08/brian-duffy-was-fired-escorted-out-of-building/#comment-78353 The was a time when The Des Moines Register was one of the most respected dailies in the nation. That was before Gannett. Political cartoons are a sign of sophistication, something Iowans deserve, but Gannett does not comprehend. To have such a highly respected and awarded employee escorted out of the building is despicable and we can only hope Duffy sues Gannett for defamation of character. I, too, have seen too many loyal employees 'escorted' off the premises for no wrong doing. It is time for someone of a high profile such as Duffy to take a stand and help end this dehumanizing practice. The was a time when The Des Moines Register was one of the most respected dailies in the nation. That was before Gannett.

Political cartoons are a sign of sophistication, something Iowans deserve, but Gannett does not comprehend.

To have such a highly respected and awarded employee escorted out of the building is despicable and we can only hope Duffy sues Gannett for defamation of character.

I, too, have seen too many loyal employees ‘escorted’ off the premises for no wrong doing. It is time for someone of a high profile such as Duffy to take a stand and help end this dehumanizing practice.

]]> By: Phil Tography http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2008/12/08/brian-duffy-was-fired-escorted-out-of-building/#comment-78256 Phil Tography Tue, 09 Dec 2008 23:20:33 +0000 http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2008/12/08/brian-duffy-was-fired-escorted-out-of-building/#comment-78256 What were his former bosses afraid of ? He would chain himself to his desk ? He would call the media ? They treated him like an unruly child. I don't think they have a legal leg to stand on, with holding his personal possessions. What gall. I'd take them to court. What were his former bosses afraid of ? He would chain himself to his desk ? He would call the media ? They treated him like an unruly child. I don’t think they have a legal leg to stand on, with holding his personal possessions. What gall. I’d take them to court.

]]> By: Rich Diesslin http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2008/12/08/brian-duffy-was-fired-escorted-out-of-building/#comment-78236 Rich Diesslin Mon, 08 Dec 2008 21:52:45 +0000 http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2008/12/08/brian-duffy-was-fired-escorted-out-of-building/#comment-78236 Bummer. A cartoonist is a real threat ... he might have thrown an eraser at them or something! Mike you said it well about the box! Looks like he still has his syndication to soften the blow, but after 25 years, you'd think you'd at least get a watch and a pat on the back to go with the kick in the pants. Bummer. A cartoonist is a real threat … he might have thrown an eraser at them or something! Mike you said it well about the box! Looks like he still has his syndication to soften the blow, but after 25 years, you’d think you’d at least get a watch and a pat on the back to go with the kick in the pants.

]]> By: Aaron Taylor http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2008/12/08/brian-duffy-was-fired-escorted-out-of-building/#comment-78235 Aaron Taylor Mon, 08 Dec 2008 21:40:44 +0000 http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2008/12/08/brian-duffy-was-fired-escorted-out-of-building/#comment-78235 Okay, I guess I can kind of understand why corporations feel the need to escort former employees immediately out of the office without giving them a chance to gather their items (although I think it is very unnecessary, nonetheless)... but, really, what vital business information is an editorial cartoonist going to take/steal before he leaves the offices of a newspaper? It's not only silly, but degrading to someone who has been there as long as Brian has. Okay, I guess I can kind of understand why corporations feel the need to escort former employees immediately out of the office without giving them a chance to gather their items (although I think it is very unnecessary, nonetheless)…
but, really, what vital business information is an editorial cartoonist going to take/steal before he leaves the offices of a newspaper? It’s not only silly, but degrading to someone who has been there as long as Brian has.

]]> By: Paul Berge http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2008/12/08/brian-duffy-was-fired-escorted-out-of-building/#comment-78233 Paul Berge Mon, 08 Dec 2008 20:59:32 +0000 http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2008/12/08/brian-duffy-was-fired-escorted-out-of-building/#comment-78233 It's time to get in the habit of taking our nibs, ink, board, and framed accolades home every night! It’s time to get in the habit of taking our nibs, ink, board, and framed accolades home every night!

]]> By: Beth Cravens http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2008/12/08/brian-duffy-was-fired-escorted-out-of-building/#comment-78232 Beth Cravens Mon, 08 Dec 2008 20:35:36 +0000 http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2008/12/08/brian-duffy-was-fired-escorted-out-of-building/#comment-78232 It's sickening. Just goes to show what selling out local media to corporate overlords gets you. Not even a box. It’s sickening. Just goes to show what selling out local media to corporate overlords gets you. Not even a box.

]]> By: Mike Peterson http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2008/12/08/brian-duffy-was-fired-escorted-out-of-building/#comment-78223 Mike Peterson Mon, 08 Dec 2008 18:13:36 +0000 http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2008/12/08/brian-duffy-was-fired-escorted-out-of-building/#comment-78223 Not handing him a box is a new low. Generally, you are invited to box up your personal stuff with the guard watching over you. Which sounded a lot worse a year or so ago, before the St. Paul/Minnesota debacle where a departing exec DID abscond with a lot of proprietary information. But, as noted in the related thread, I think he's got a right to a fair amount of stuff, unless he keeps a much cleaner workstation than I've seen in any newsrooms. I assume they have some way to get him his personal items, but if they are doing the sorting, it may be a lot less than he would have selected ... if only because they may decide to throw out the letter from the second grade or the business card of the nice old guy or any number of other things that he might have wanted to hang onto. Nice bastards let you fill a box. These bastards aren't nice. Not handing him a box is a new low. Generally, you are invited to box up your personal stuff with the guard watching over you. Which sounded a lot worse a year or so ago, before the St. Paul/Minnesota debacle where a departing exec DID abscond with a lot of proprietary information.

But, as noted in the related thread, I think he’s got a right to a fair amount of stuff, unless he keeps a much cleaner workstation than I’ve seen in any newsrooms. I assume they have some way to get him his personal items, but if they are doing the sorting, it may be a lot less than he would have selected … if only because they may decide to throw out the letter from the second grade or the business card of the nice old guy or any number of other things that he might have wanted to hang onto.

Nice bastards let you fill a box. These bastards aren’t nice.

]]> By: anne hambrock http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2008/12/08/brian-duffy-was-fired-escorted-out-of-building/#comment-78222 anne hambrock Mon, 08 Dec 2008 18:10:01 +0000 http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2008/12/08/brian-duffy-was-fired-escorted-out-of-building/#comment-78222 As Ted says this practice is, unfortunately, widespread and has been going on for years. It has happened to more than one friend of mine and I never understand it. My friends in the trades just get phone calls that they're laid off until further notice but my friends with mid-level white collar jobs get this lovely "escorted off the premises by security" send off. I mean these are usually highly dedicated employees with many years invested in the company and they are treated like some kind of criminal. As Ted says this practice is, unfortunately, widespread and has been going on for years. It has happened to more than one friend of mine and I never understand it. My friends in the trades just get phone calls that they’re laid off until further notice but my friends with mid-level white collar jobs get this lovely “escorted off the premises by security” send off. I mean these are usually highly dedicated employees with many years invested in the company and they are treated like some kind of criminal.

]]>