randybeck

Beck was a guest on Knobe’s show yesterday, talking about his goal to recruit mentors;

Randell Beck, former publisher of the Argus-Leader, is on mission. He is leading an effort to enlist 500 more mentors for students in our elementary, middle, and high schools. Currently there are about 1000 people investing an hour a week in helping a child succeed. The list of students needing mentors is long. Mr. Beck will talk about a new effort to attract people like you to help.

I did not hear the program, so I still need to get the following information confirmed, but a listener told me that Beck has a new job at Avera in community relations. Not sure if this has something to do with his mentoring and is a volunteer position, or a paid position? BUT if it is a paid gig, it makes you wonder why Beck ‘retired’ early from GANNETT if he still wanted to continue to work? It’s one thing to want to make a career change when you are 30, 40 or even 50 but to jump the publishing industry when you are close to retirement seems a bit odd.

So did Beck ‘retire’? I’m sure we will get the answer to that question the same day we find out what Gannett paid Dan Scott to settle out of court.

16 Thoughts on “Did former AL Publisher Randell Beck retire on his own fruition?

  1. Definitely not. But maybe on his volition.

  2. Thanks LC. I still find it odd that after ‘retiring’ he would jump into a major position like this. I wonder if Avera wrote in his contract that he is not allowed to write satirical pieces about T. Denny or Kelby?

  3. Why would you NOT retire form Gannett? The writing is on the wall and he’s smart to get out while the getting is good.

  4. hornguy on January 23, 2014 at 4:00 pm said:

    Jeez, talk about innuendo stacked on innuendo piled on top of more innuendo.

    So you miss a story from two weeks ago and it turns into a Randell Beck whydunit? The only person who appears to be wondering anything here is you, and you don’t seem to have any factual basis for it whatsoever other than a proclivity for peddling conspiracy when you’ve nothing else to say.

    I’ll go with Occam’s razor on this one until you’ve got some proof. Stick to railing on the mayor or the pool in the meantime.

  5. usually when a business creates a position for someone, it means the boss’s buddy will be on the payroll doing little more than cashing a check.

  6. pathloss on January 23, 2014 at 8:05 pm said:

    Anything about the Argus is disappointment. If you’re there you should be seeking a way out. If your career was there, you made a mistake. Sorry, I have no sympathy for Beck or Lilley or staff. The largest scandal in state history is under your noses and you’ve failed to report it. Yes, the city is your biggest if not only advertiser. It’ll be embarrassing and devastating when national press reports the corruption before you do.

  7. a concerned mom on January 23, 2014 at 9:09 pm said:

    Let’s hope they vet and do research on those mentors, so they don’t just hire a nice dressed and articulate young man who will groom your son for their own sick perversion. Not like anything would happen like that in the best little city in america.

  8. Pathloss.

    I assume you are referring to the beef debacle. I think Ellis has done a pretty good job reporting on this. I think it’s the folks in Pierre that aren’t giving us much to read of.

    Where the F$*king hand cuffs and perp walk for the Jupta or whatever the hell his name is?

    If DL’s beloved Democrats really wanted some reform, they should be standing together and demanding some action. I know I want some heads to roll. And I want us completely out of this dirtbag green cards for cash scheme.

    UH OH…. I feel a letter to the editor rant building in me.

  9. Heck, maybe Beck had this in the works before he left Gannett. Probably saw the writing on the wall and got tired of reading articles about biking and his son’s band 🙂

  10. I had (a catholic) say to me today that they were surprised that Avera would hire Beck for community relations. I asked why, and they said, “Have you ever met him . . .?”

  11. He’s just following in the footsteps of every single “retired” media person. They all end up at one of the hospitals…or taking a cushy job writing press releases for the city.

  12. But why? Doesn’t retired mean, retired?

  13. Poly43 on January 25, 2014 at 8:33 am said:

    For some, retired simply means another source of income in the form of a pension check. I’m sure ALL the argus employees are looking forward to their pension.

  14. It’s kind of hard to turn down those big checks from the hospitals…especially when the gig demands little actual work.

  15. anominous on January 25, 2014 at 6:40 pm said:

    This is some corporate bullshit right here.

Post Navigation