I just read a report in The Wall Street Journal that Chrysler's top spokesman is resigning, and it struck me that this is a pretty odd subject for a news story.

The piece focuses on the resignation of Jason Vines, VP of Communications, who reported to CEO Robert Nardelli, who joined Chrysler when the private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management bought Chrysler. The Journal, citing "people familiar with the matter," writes:

A former stand-up comedian with a flare for showmanship, Mr. Vines clashed with a more tight-lipped approach to media relations advocated by Mr. Nardelli and Cerberus, they said. He had been pushing Mr. Nardelli and Vice Chairman Jim Press, who was recruited from Toyota Motor Corp., to speak to the media about Chrysler's turnaround efforts, but Mr. Nardelli opposed him, they said.

I've never thought it a wise idea for PR people to talk about their work in the press -- it's a lot like making your playbook public. And this story shows why.

As far as I can tell, this story only raises doubts about the judgment of all the people and entities mentioned. Not good. I guess Chrysler now will have to turn around its communications efforts along with the rest of the company.

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