Daddy's girl

Published Dec 05 2006, 05:47 PM by Adam Reilly

7

What to say about Kerry Purcell's installation as director of content development for Herald Interactive?

#1: Purcell is, in fact, the daughter of Herald owner Pat Purcell. This fact was omitted from the Herald's web item on K. Purcell's promotion yesterday, but found its way into today's print edition.

#2: She's the first director of content development in Herald Interactive's history. In other words, this is a brand-new position.

#3: K. Purcell's rise has been rapid. She started at the Herald as an editorial assistant in 2003, the same year she graduated from B.C.

#4: If prose skills alone were an indicator of K. Purcell's future success, there'd be cause for concern. Here she is earlier this year, blogging from the big Filene's going-out-of-business sale:

PETA is going to hate me but here goes. If and when you want to indulge in a fur coat, whether it’s faux or not, Filene’s probably isn’t the first store you’d shop, right? You know I am. I mean Saks has a “Fur Salon,” which you must pronounce “Saaaalon” with a French accent. Anyways, I digress, Filene’s is starting to sell Furs today at 40%, 50%, and 60% off. Now this IS a good deal. I arrived to the store just as they started bringing racks and racks of these deliciously furry deals to the floor. I didn’t leave until I saw and felt the entire selection - that’s why my blog is so late today - but I couldn’t tear myself away from the fuzzy warmth.

#5: Fortunately, acting as a liaison between BostonHerald.com and the paper's sports and features departments probably requries a whole bunch of skills K. Purcell possesses that I can't begin to understand.

#6: Dad's bullish on the move. "I’m very proud of the ink in Kerry’s blood," Patrick Purcell told his paper. "She’s done a terrific job as a reporter, and those skills will be invaluable in streamlining the process of posting news on the Web site - efficiently and expediently."

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7 Comments

• Greg Reibman said:

  Adam, you’re a little late to the dance on this one. Pat Purcell has been employing family members at the Herald for decades, something that comes with the territory at all sorts of family-run businesses. I’ve never met Kerry, but as a former Herald employee I can tell you that the Purcell family members I’ve worked have been true professionals who have contributed in positive way to the enterprise. Funny that you would think that’s so unusual considering the Phoenix engages in the same practice.
  December 5, 2006 10:07 PM

• Adam said:

  Yo, Greg--How goes it? Re: my post, I'm making no sweeping statements about Purcell employing family members--which certainly occurs at other media outlets, including the Phoenix and the NY Times. I AM taking note of an important staffing change at the Herald. Your response may stem from the Romenesko flag on my item--i.e., Purcell hires Purcell. That's his, not mine.
  December 5, 2006 10:35 PM

• Tony Schinella said:

  FTR, I have to agree with Greg. When I was working for CNC, I met Purcell's other daughter, the one who was married to the VP and has kids, at two company picnics. Her name is slipping my mind at the moment but she was super nice to me both times and didn't treat me like the hired help. Compared to other companies I've worked for with family members in the org, it was a welcome change. :-)
  December 6, 2006 12:36 AM

• reader said:

  I'm sure Kerry is a nice person. But it's interesting that Pat Purcell is creating a new executive position for her at a time when other people are being laid off.
  December 6, 2006 11:47 AM

• Ernie Boch III said:

  Let em eat cake
  December 6, 2006 8:08 PM

• Reality Check said:

  So I have a really nice family too. Can I get a promotion? I have no qualifications and no self worth either. I think that I am qualified.
  December 7, 2006 3:25 AM

• Stephen Solomon said:

  Calling her out on her decidedly marginal writing skills is a tad hypocritical, don't you think? The sentence used to start this piece isn't even a sentence.
  December 8, 2006 6:20 PM

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