KSDK hits Anheuser-Busch; Anheuser-Busch hits KSDK
If you’ve been watching TV over the past few days, perhaps you’ve seen them: promos for an upcoming segment on KSDK (Channel 5), in which the station promises to expose tasteless spending at Anheuser-Busch, contrasting it sharply with local layoffs.
“Forget AIG,” we are told one promo intones. “This one hits home.”
That’s strongly worded. Does reporter Leisa Zigman back it up? We can’t answer that, not having seen the segment. (It airs tonight at 10:00.) But the controversy has already begun.
Anheuser-Busch is none too happy about what it calls “insensitive” treatment at the hands of KSDK. Not happy. At. All. It has told KSDK management thus.
Two top executives - president Dave Peacock and Jim Brickey, vice president of people - also sent out a long, tart memo to A-B employees, in which they accused KSDK and Zigman of exploiting “the misfortune of others for their own gain.” Oh, but A-B wasn’t done: A-B, now a division of Anheuser-Busch InBev, said the station “took the low road in distorting facts while relying on sources with questionable motives” while airing a “sensationalized” and “hyped” story.
Good night, Sally. That is rough. Rarely have we seen Anheuser-Busch hit back so hard against a news piece. We wonder…is this part of the company’s stated commitment to “communicate in a thorough and timely manner”? If so, reporters might want to gird up their loins for battle. Or at least for criticism.
The crux of the issue, so far as we can tell, is a trip by 14 A-B managers to meetings and training events at Anheuser-Busch’s property at Lake of the Ozarks. The trips, it seems, are cast in the KSDK piece as an example of especially ill-timed corporate greed. A-B strongly objects to that characterization.
According to Anheuser-Busch, the group car‑pooled to the lake to reduce costs and used one of the company-owned boats to visit local restaurants. The boat was actually the least-expensive option for a night of visiting customers, according to A-B. The group bought Anheuser-Busch beers for other patrons at the restaurants, but that was for a good cause, A-B argued in the memo: building goodwill among customers.
On the other side, one source told Lager Heads the memo was an exercise in “spin.” The trips to the lake were indeed pretty lavish back in the day, we are told - replete with golf, massages and outings on the boats. High-level folks, as well as any special presenters, would get helicopter rides to and from the place.
But A-B, for its part, said the meeting in question was cost-effective and authorized - not a shameworthy exercise in self-indulgence. The total cost of the two-day meetings was about $100 per person, excluding the costs people incurred to drive to the lake, A-B said. Some of the staffers stayed in their personal homes, so the company incurred no lodging costs.
No matter who is right, the times are changing. Anheuser-Busch, which has owned the Lake of the Ozarks facility for 25 years, is assessing the need for the property. It is looking to sell all or most of the assets. The watercraft is already on the market.
(16 votes, average: 4.25 out of 5)
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Jeremiah McWilliams is a native Virginian who came to the Post-Dispatch in early 2007 to cover beer and other consumer products. He previously covered manufacturing for the Virginian-Pilot newspaper in Norfolk, Va. He is a graduate of Washington and Lee University. 
Great, the local media looks like they’re hell bent on chasing A-B out of St. Louis. How many major corporations still have headquarters in the City of St. Louis? Peabody Coal and ????? If the City can’t alienate a business, the media will step in and do it for them. Has anyone seen the plans for Centene in Clayton? It’s going to be an impressive headquarters with plenty of employees. Of course they wanted to move to the City, but somehow that was screwed up. The last person to leave the City of St. Louis, please turn off the lights.
Channel 5’s “I” team, Foxes “You paid for it” and whatever they have on Channel 4 (I never even turn that channel on), are just a ridiculous waste of time and money. What exactly does KSDK think AB is going to do with that property? Leave it abandon. And, of course, no one at KSDK ever does anything that could be considered over the top. If we could just be as perfect as the media! Here’s a news flash, KSDK stabs long-time anchor in the back, film at 10.
Mike:
Yo’re clearly not happy with AB, so why haven’t you just pack up your things and vacated the premises? No one is keeping you locked to your desk and forcing you stay. Seems a little shady on your part that you are so willing to sell the company out (put an internal memo up on the blog) while taking the paycheck and benefits. Stand up for what you believe for sure. That’s honorable and respectful. Now just follow your words with action and really stand up for what you believe in.
Who cares right? Seriously, AB isn’t local anymore so its not our problem!!
This local T.V. station says much about the local mentality of St. Louis.
Times may be changing for most industries but times nor the bottom line is changing all that much for the alcohol beverage industry. Get a grip KSDK, this is nothing you are making a mountain over. The Lake Of The Ozarks and at a property that they own is not exactly over the top. Reporting such as this only makes St. Louis look extremely bad. I truly would not tolerate this kind of ignorance and would just, BE GONE! Why should they stay here for this kind of treatment? I am certain another city would appreciate them much more.
If you think KSDK’s in trouble now with their lame news reporting, horrible weather reporting, and the God Awful sports reporting, just wait 2 weeks when no one turns their 10 PM newscast on because Conan comes on after that.
Comeon!
They wouldn’t let most employees volunteer for the severance or I would already be gone. They selectively allowed some employees to volunteer and this is being arbitrated through the internal DRP Process (Dispute Resolution). Additionally, they said if you quit you get nothing, not even your vacation pay except what’s accrued to date. If brito wants to get rid of people, all he has to do is offer a voluntary severance package and the place will empty out in a day. If they don’t want to buy me out, then I guess they’ll just have to live with me, or fire me and pay me severance. I owe these folks the same loyalty they have shown to us, the retirees, and the vendors. Absolutely None. By the way, they are getting what they are paying for: A half-assed effort and the bare bones minimum until I find a job with an American company with class and pride.
Did anyone hear that AB could pull out of STL because of local negativity?
Now this quote from Peacock is funny . . .
“It has been difficult enough for all of us to endure so much change and watch many good people leave the company either voluntarily or involuntarily, over the last several months. We remain firmly committed to treating all current and former employees with respect and dignity.”
Peacock, Carlos and Brickey don’t give one thought to the people that they let go. That is pure baloney.
ps - I have dignity while sitting in the reception area of my bankruptcy attorney’s office, but dignity I don’t need. What I need is a job. So, ok all you commenters out there, be sure to say that I was one of the overpaid losers or I would not have lost my job in the first place. Before you even say it I’m telling you that you don’t know what you’re talking about.
Not the first time (or last) that Zigman and KSDK have created their own story to fit what they want. Another example of the media’s insatiable appetitite for what they think is “gotcha” news.