An Ex-Entrepreneur Writer Lashes Out

...... Do I have to say it? I encourage execs at Entrepreneur to put out this fire before their magazine (and their reputation) is permanently singed. Burying one's head in the sand only keeps your face from getting burned.

Whether he is right or wrong, good luck getting work in publishing after penning this missive. My bet is that Dennis Romero will rue the day he published "his manifesto".

Regardless of what is going on with the publication, Romero comes off as someone who can't control his emotions. Many people are unhappy with their employers. Many people don't like their bosses or question their qualifications. I'm sure we've all been tempted to write F U missives. This one should been drafted and deleted. After Romero's anger cooled he might have written a more neutral (and less potentially actionable account.) On a different note: There is no expectation of privacy when using your employer's communication equipment. Most companies will tell you this in your handbook.

When times are tough and people are getting laid off, you start with those who are unhappy and don't fit into the team. So in times like these, being uhappy is enough. That he got fired for cause makes it plainer. There's enough risk in firing anyone for anything; it's easier to lay someone off. That his bosses went the extra mile to fire him makes it clear they had good reason -- whatever it might have been. Romero is bitter, and he may have perfect reason to be that way. But there's nothing to gain in the way he's handling himself, and there's really no way to justify it either.

Without knowing, and frankly not caring, about the drama that's unfolded/ing at Entrepreneur, I'm still going to bet that much of what Romero writes is true about the how the magazine is being run, or not run as the case may be. And it doesn't matter. If the family who owns the company wants to self-immolate in their own stupidity (as Romero contends they are), that's their business, ultimately. Furthermore, the punches that Romero may have landed are completely lost to this reader in the self-aggrandizement, self-congratulatory tone in which this post is bathed. He's probably very, very good; he's not the frickin' Second Coming. And no matter how much I might feel I need him on my staff, after reading this I would never, never, never, never hire him, even as a freelancer. Who needs to agita?

The word in journalism circles here in So Cal is that Entrepreneur was terrible place run by a couple of nuts. One only need look at the revolving door of staffers and the insanely inflated $200 million price tag that the owners asked when tried to unload their 3rd rate operation. I've not worked there, but known several people who have in the past 15 years. I think "hell hole" is the word that comes to mind. This is not a surprise--this is Orange County, California, after all. The OC is a place where money makes you wackier and gives folks like those who run Entrepreneur a sense of noblesse oblige. It's not all all surprising that they'd hire an editor who thinks just like them.

Yes, Romero was shrill. However, his full posting (be sure to link & read it) speaks to the bottom line most publishers cannot bear to face: it's about VALUE! This king-has-no-clothes fantasy is evident in FOLIO's journalism as well. (Multiple stories glorifying cost containment, nary a one which speaks to winning customers with better content.) Romero's complaint is that Entrepreneur hired an ill-experienced head of editorial who followed an apparent company policy of promotion over content (very apparent if one reads a few issues). Isn't that the industry's pandemic? The plain fact is that there are too many magazines in consumer and b2b. And too many of them have survived by providing content which neither informs nor moves nor entertains the reader. In b2b, an employee might receive 4-6 free magazines which she rarely has time to read. Two or 3 of those magazines survive by simply hiding in the chaff: the reader has become so inundated that he loses control of what's worth reading and what's not. Consequently, the first expense publishers are willing to cut is content; the only value they offer readers. So many publishers have cut so much value from the medium that consumers can no longer tell if there's any in it at all. For quality publications to thrive, more low-value titles must die. This is the industry fundamental which neither FOLIO nor its c-level readers have the cojones to face.

Who does this clown think he is? Lots of good people and not so good people in the biz have been laid off during this recession. To complain on his blog is whining, pure and simple, and will only hurt him. The other thing is why even cover it? Who cares?

I sorta loved reading all the things we adults know we shouldn't say or do after we have been 'let go'. • bad-mouthing your ex-employers • listing your superior talents and skills • whining about the injustice of it all Very entertaining. Thanks!

And stop being a big baby, you're a grown man, there is no need to run around bashing a perfectly nice woman, just to try and make yourself feel better. Find a new hobby

Ironically, Dennis may end up being an "entrepreneur" as a result of blogging about his miserable experience at Entrepreneur magazine. Many famous entrepreneurs became entrepreneurs because they were disgusted with working for inept bosses and unethical companies. So those of you all worked up and criticizing Dennis for speaking his mind are probably not current or future entrepreneurs. Agree or disagree with his posting, it's Entrepreneur magazine that's the real loser here.

Well written but not smart. Being out of sync with some of the ways media companies have to evolve screams more loudly that his diatribe. Be happy or move on...

Was Dennis Romero very brave or mistaken to post his highly critical depiction of life at Anti-Entrepreneur mag? I guess time will tell. But whatever your personal views, you have to admit that his take on the sad state of affairs at Anti-Entrepreneur is very telling, and is something that should highly concern all Anti-Entrepreneur execs, advertisers, staffers, and vendors. And because of Dennis, future job candidates may be forewarned about what working for Anti-Entrepreneur can be like. So why would someone take the time to criticize Dennis instead of Anti-Entrepreneur (notably "anonymously")? Dennis writes a single piece you disagree with and you attack him? But Anti-Entrepreneur apparently has monumental problems and you're okay with that? Obviously, this is because you're an Anti-Entrepreneur insider, desperately trying to divert attention from Anti-Entrepreneur's plethora of problems by attacking the messenger (and I believe Anti-Entrepreneur's decades long history of fraudulent and unethical business practices). Message to Anti-Entrepreneur insiders: viciously attacking a fast-growing group of vocal critics does nothing to fix the serious problems they speak of. In fact, your mean-spirited responses to spot-on criticisms strongly supports what people are saying about you. Thanks for the clarification. Attacking critics will do absolutely nothing to save a fast sinking barge run be a shockingly stubborn and clueless crew. But apparently, you will keep attacking others until your thick heads are completely under water. Last year at this time Peter Shea actually thought someone would be dumb enough to fork over $200 million for problem-plagued Anti-Entrepreneur. Considering the current state of the economy plus the cataclysmic state of Anti-Entrepreneur, now would anyone be willing to pay even 1% of that for Anti-Entrepreneur?

Gotta love the expression "creative differences," which conveys so much while leaving so little to quote. This rant is a good 22 graphs too long for future employment.

Dennis, for someone who's supposedly such an accomplished, talented, experienced publishing professional, you're extremely naive. Your long, drawn-out, boring, infantile rant only offers credence as to why you were let go. Frankly, it matters not that your EIC sucked so badly. Join the club! The magazine publishing world is lousy with incompetent leadership. Who among us hasn't had to deal with that at one time or another? Here's a thought: Why don't you rise above it and create the change needed to improve the quality of print publications? You showed a total lack of professionalism and character by chattering like a goofy teenage girl with current and former employees about how you were so maligned...boo hoo. Only the strong will survive these very strange times in publishing, Dennis. Good luck with that.

You've heard of "Death by Cop," where a usually unhinged person wants to end it all, but can't for reasons of conscience or courage commit suicide? They involve themselves in an extreme criminal situation involving the police, and more often than not ends with the unhinged sap provoking the cops into killing them. God help this guy Romero, his is a "death by loggorrhea" -- he's went overboard and exposed more than the inept management of an old employer. All of us who've career-ed in media/publishing for any length of time can certainly understand his upset with his treatment at the magazine. Who among us hasn't gotten the sh*t end of the stick at-least once in our careers? What NO ONE will understand is his now etched-in-internet-stone "I'll show you" tantrum. He's a pro, he should have known better. I'd never question Dennis' motives or his courage, though, because he indeed signed his name to his post. I still want to work in media and can't risk an op-ed surfacing and biting me in the ass. which is why I have to remain anonymous.

One minor point -- isn't the headline misleading? He wasn't technically laid off. He was fired. There's a difference.

Mr. Romero didn't like his job; Entrepreneur didn't like him. He no longer works there, so now shouldn't everyone be happy? Let's hear from the people that are much happier in their next job after a firing. Or fellow employees who are much happier after an unhappy coworker is gone.

RE:"...When times are tough and people are getting laid off, you start with those who are unhappy and don't fit into the team." ---Really. After everyone takes a 10% cut in pay, they celebrate? How do you determine who the MOST unhappy is? Do we go back to the black spot lottery? And I thought people were fired because it was determined they did something wrong or were not performing their duties as designated by their job description. That is one of the most unprofessional statements I've heard. If I had a team member who was "unhappy" in their position, it is your responsibility as a supervisor to speak with them and help them determine a better course of action. As a colleague or peer, you should talk to them and point out any actions which may have a negative affect on them or those around them.

I have no problem with Dennis Romero's extended "rant" against Entrepreneur Magazine. Granted, he could have used a good editor to cut it down to a more modest 2,000-2,500 words, but he had a gripe and he voiced his opinions. This whole notion of it coming back to haunt him is silly and stupid. I've read his work before. He's an excellent writer and good talent will always find a home somewhere in publishing. The real story here is the fast and furious downward spiral of a once celebrated magazine for small business owners. Peter Shea took Entrepreneur Magazine from an also-ran to one of the leading publications for entrepreneurs. It took him and a great editorial team almost 20 years to accomplish this feat. Now, in less than two years, his son Ryan Shea will effectively erase all that was done. Bad decisions and a cocky attitude will do that to ya. I've been following this saga since they first let go the former Editor. She was the glue that held everything together. She was the protector of the brand and they dismissed her like she was an intern. Their misguided leader somehow thought they could still maintain their high editorial standards by replacing her with someone obviously unqualified to do the job. His actions were the equivalent of a doctor pulling the heart out of a patient, then telling him to go live a normal life. The clock watch has started on Entrepreneur. Sold or folded, it's anyone's guess--but the days of wine and roses are certainly gone for good. Long Live Entrepreneur Magazine!

For someone who considers himself such a talented writer, I find it odd that he doesn't seem to know the difference between a colon and a semi-colon, or a colon and an M-dash, and when to use what.

Anybody who's been paying attention to the Entrepreneur saga knows that place is a train wreck. The only thing that's shrill is the defense of what is clearly a terrible editorial environment over there.

I thought it was em-dash, but what do I know?

. . . for repeating and linking to a blog that so personally and violently attacks one individual, without giving her a chance to respond, when you yourself ask the question, "So, are these the rantings of a slighted staffer?" Badly done.

"We terminated his employment for cause," Entrepreneur vice president and corporate publisher Ryan Shea wrote in an e-mail to me this afternoon. "As you know there are two sides to every story."

re: Shame on FOLIO. I agree that FOLIO hasn't provided people an opportunity to respond to allegations, but it's usually Entrepreneur mag that gets the opportunity, and not their former employees! Example, FOLIO recently repeated Entrepreneur mag's bizarre allegations that editors were leaving in droves because of former editor Rieva Lesonsky, who bailed out of there well over a year ago. But I don't recall FOLIO giving Rieva a chance to respond, which is probably why she had to by posting her comments (using her REAL name, unlike nearly everyone else posting their comments). And like someone else pointed out, Entrepreneur mag was given a chance to respond to this article and chose to have Ryan Shea respond via email (probably because he couldn't handle a live question and answer session). I'm sure that FOLIO sought, and would have printed, Amy Cosper's response if she had been willing and able to provide one. Think about it, what is she going to say, that she is qualified to be EIC of a large national business magazine for and about entrepreneurs? As I've previously said, she knows about as much about entrepreneurs as she does about Martians. And shame on Entrepreneur mag for further deceiving its readers and advertisers by claiming to be the leading source for entrepreneurs while simultaneously hiring writers and editors who haven't a clue about entrepreneurs!

There needs to be some perspective here. Romero was hard to work with. Not very popular with with co-workers. His post reflects his ego. But Cosper is exactly as he describes her. Clueless and lazy. And Entrepreneur managment has never cared about the readers. It's all about the money, which these days is rapidly disappearing. It sounds like all the parties involved deserve one another.

Dennis, I know the frustration you feel. I've worked at different magazines for over 20 years. I've always put in more than 100% into the work I've done and hardly felt appreciated. I've been surpassed for job promotions, salary increases, and even credit given to me on some of the successful projects I've worked on. Since you have the talent, my advice to you is to use it to your advantage and make a name for yourself, maybe even start your own business! Channel your anger to do something greater, Good Luck!!!

is this any worse than Businessweek's John Byrne tweeting the link to Dennis Romero's post with no context? folio contacted ms. Cosper's boss for comment and simply asked a question. and, here we are responding.

I've been on both sides of the equation -- recently laid off because I was unhappy in a job that was no longer a fit for me -- and before that, in charge of laying off many people over the past 2 recessions. People, I might add, who I managed with heart and compassion. But when required to make cuts, do you cut people who fundamentally like what they do and where they do it? Or do you cut people who -- if they survive the cuts -- will be the first to leave when opportunities start to open up again? As for firing vs. layoff, at a time like this the usual distinction is that everyone gets laid off -- except people who have caused so much trouble during their stay that on principal the money people refuse to fund their unemployment and other separation costs.