I found this in the most recent issue of Harper's Magazine.
I know it will interest members of this list. Eric THE MOOSEPAPER OF RECORD The following email was sent to employees of the New York Times Company in April. From: "NYTIMES MAIL" To: "NY TIMES INTERNET" Subject: Moose Caboose To the Staff, Now that we've gotten your attention, here's the derivation of The New York Times Company's Moose. Guests arrive at an elegant dinner party to which many prominent socialites have been invited. All is going well until the guests are asked to move into the dining room for dinner. As they enter the dining room, the guests can't help but see that a moose is already seated at the table and apparently joining them for dinner. Naturally, the guests are anxious to know why the moose is there. However, being a well-reserved and mannered group they are reluctant to ask for fear of insulting the party's host by indicating that something at the party is amiss. Accordingly, the guests completely ignore the presence of the moose at the table. Everyone knows that the moose is there, but no one has the courage to raise the question of its presence. We have been using this apocryphal moose anecdote as a way of assuring ourselves that at The New York Times Company, we never want to ignore "the moose at the table. " When significant business issues arise, they should be identified and addressed. These issues should not be avoided because they are "too sensitive" or "too impolitic" to be raised. Treating one another with civility and respect should never mean keeping silent in the face of important business issues. One of the reasons that our Company's journalism is so well regarded is because it is candid, honest and reported "without fear or favor. " If we are to do our best work throughout the Company, our business conversations with each other should be equally candid, honest and unafraid. Let's not ignore the moose when he's sitting at our table. Thanks. CARRMML Cindy, Arthur, Russ, Robinson (Janet), Michael, Martin and Len -- .·´¯`·.¸ ><((((º> .·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸ <º))))>< ,.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·.¸ ><((((º> ¸.·´¯`·..·´¯`·.¸ ><((((º> .·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·.¸.·´¯`·.¸ ><((((º> .·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸ <º))))>< .·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·.¸ ><((((º> ¸.·´¯`·..·´¯`·.¸ Eric Lilius Box 27 Eagle Lake, Ontario, Canada K0M 1M0 email:[email protected] ph: 705-754-9859 fax: 705-754-9860 * * ========================================================== [email protected] ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of [email protected], Visit: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
