Post by Eric Starkman

Reporters assigned to GM rarely write stories that cast the automaker in a negative light. Access journalism rewards cooperation and discourages confrontation. The value of journalism these days is determined by clicks, not the quality of enterprise reporting or compelling analysis. GM Authority, a trade publication aimed at GM loyalists, wouldn’t survive by repackaging GM PR talking points as news. The online publication covers GM without fear or favor and publishes stories the PR department would rather keep under wraps. This week, it published an especially newsworthy scoop. GMA reported that the automaker is implementing tighter quality control procedures on several key engine components for the new Gen 6 Small Block. In addition, some critical parts and processes are reportedly being brought in house rather than relying on outside suppliers, a move intended to provide greater oversight of manufacturing consistency and component quality. The move is a reversal of Barra’s bean counting ways and suggests GM recognizes it has a trust problem with truck buyers following years of recalls, lawsuits, service bulletins and owner complaints involving its V8 engines. While the corporate media has given scant attention to the issue beyond reporting on GM’s massive recall of more than 720,000 trucks and SUVs equipped with potentially defective engines, the matter has received extensive and damning coverage from YouTube automotive creators with sizeable followings. “As regular readers no doubt already know, GM’s bread and butter 6.2L V8 L87 gasoline engine has faced heightened scrutiny over the last few years as a result of a high profile recall and unrelated valve lifter related issues. And between the recall, service updates, lawsuits, and other owner complaints, a certain degree of apprehension has settled among some truck buyers,” GMA reported. Other trade publications immediately appreciated GMA's scoop and expanded on the story, including Torque News (link in comment). GMA is also the only publication to report that GM’s board rejected a proposal that would have required the company to separate the roles of board chair and chief executive officer. Corporate governance experts generally agree that allowing a CEO to serve as board chair is not a best practice, and companies increasingly are separating the two roles. The only critical story about Barra I can recall reading was Phoebe Wall Howard’s October 2025 Substack article questioning her numerous board assignments, including serving as a Disney director, a role that pays more than $360,000 annually plus benefits. It’s heartening that the piece earned a local Detroit journalism award. Tellingly, GM declined Howard’s request for comment. Good journalism doesn’t require access. It requires reporters willing to ask uncomfortable questions without worrying about how management will react. https://lnkd.in/eam_YARP #journalism @phoebewallhoward