Radical New Tribune Co Exec: "NEWS & INFORMATION IS THE NEW ROCK N ROLL."
Who is Lee Abrams? Lee Abrams is the hippest 55 year-old you've never met. Lee Abrams is unafraid to use capitalization for emphasis. Lee Abrams believes in the power of inspirational quotes. Lee Abrams is a former XM executive who was recently named "innovation director" at Tribune Co. (who is coincidentally "a longtime friend of Sam Zell deputy Randy Michaels"). And if you work for the Tribune Co., you're in luck because you just got the coolest boss eva.
Lee Abrams has an exciting theory about culture: "NEWS & INFORMATION IS THE NEW ROCK N ROLL." Remember how awesome ROCK N ROLL was in the 20th century? That's how awesome NEWS & INFORMATION will be in the 21st century.
Lee Abrams realizes that sometimes famous people have said things better than he ever could. That's why he signs off his introductory memo like this: "instead of reading about the doom and gloom, check out these quotes." It's hard to pick just one out of the 60 he included, but number 40 from Pablo Picasso &mdash "Every act of creation is first of all an act of destruction" &mdash really speaks to future of Tribune Co.
I love how this guy thinks. Who cares he's a self-described "economic dunce." What does money have to do with current state of journalism? He's got it all worked out: "If Tribune properties turn users into fans ... the revenue WILL skyrocket. That I know." Seriously, Tribuners, don't freak out. The revenue WILL skyrocket. He knows THAT.
Lee Abrams is so awesome he isn't even afraid of the Osama Bin Laden: "Terrorists don't scare me...a dumb America is frightening."
I bet this guy totally loves Vampire Weekend.