Posted by chicagomedia.org on August 08, 2008 at 11:00:32:
Readers pin the tail on CBS 2 birthday boy Joe Ahern
Readers' reactions to Thursday's report about Joe Ahern, boss of CBS-owned WBBM-Channel 2, forcing staffers to pay for his birthday party:
Amy Maynard: With Joe Ahern's $5,000 lunch and birthday bash fiasco, can we safely assume that this is finally the beginning of the end of Mr. Ahern in Chicago?
Jim Hastings: Five thousand dollars for lunch, but no money to send Jay Levine to cover the Olympics? How do these people get these jobs?
Johnathan Scott: Joe Ahern obviously hasn't done much for Channel 2, and your article about his birthday bash just takes the cake. It's time for CBS to show him the door and stop making this station a laughingstock.
Dave Heller: The fact that Jay Levine is not covering the Olympics for CBS 2 is bad enough. But when I read that collections were taken up for the Joe Ahern bash, that is sad.
Bob Jensen: Joe Ahern sounds like a piece of cake. The last time I remember some executive in New York charged a company for extra items, he was sent to jail.
Nina Carrie: At a time when this GM keeps laying off his employees because of budget cuts, he has the nerve to try to get CBS to cover his lunch with pals! He should be ashamed. I hope CBS finally realizes this man has done more damage to CBS 2 rather than good and shows him the door.
The following messages were posted at suntimes.com:
Lydell: First, throwing a party for yourself is a little sad. Then, to retroactively bill the guests?
Galeval: Having your top management employees pay for your birthday party is tacky. I would be looking for a new job, if I was them.
Thewindycity: The Ahern story ranks somewhere between classic and hilarious.
Bugsy: If my memory is correct, it seems that former Gov. George Ryan used to make his staff give him cash too. Only difference is, Ryan never gave them a lunch or a party in return.
Daniel1000: Bill the company for your birthday party? LOL. I've had creative expense reports before but nothing like this.
Charlie: This man is worth millions and makes others pay for his mistake. Will this be enough for CBS to say he has to go?
Marcanthony: Wow, just how important does Joe Ahern think he is? Obviously, he thinks he must be somebody to throw himself a birthday party and think that the station would pay for it. [Then] he probably threatened his employees with being fired if they didn't pony up to cover the bill!
Susie: Tonight on CBS 2 News: Reporter Amy Jacobson uncovers a news executive's cheap and pathetic ways. Karma is a bitch!
(Feder)