A memo from new Washington Times Publisher Jonathan Slevin, obtained by TPM and set to run in the paper tomorrow, says “limited resources and fiscal constraints” will likely prompt more changes at the paper, which has been in a period of crisis since three top executives were fired and its head editor resigned last week.
Responding to a discrimination complaint filed by editorial page editor Richard Miniter with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Slevin says that the newspaper “does not discriminate and does not tolerate discrimination. … I am confident that once the charges raised by Mr. Miniter, are investigated, the company will be fully vindicated.”
Of the state of the newspaper, Slevin writes: “I anticipate that the coming weeks and months will bring additional changes to The Washington Times, yet rest assured that no matter what changes occur, we will continue to maintain the same spirited reporting on our news pages and online, and a robust alternative voice on our opinion pages.”
When its publisher and two other executives were fired 10 days ago, the Times, which was founded by Unificiation Church leader Rev. Sun Myung Moon and is controlled by his son Preston, said the new management team would be working on a sustainability plan. Payments to employee 401(k) accounts were suspended last week. And sources have told TPM that politics within the Moon family have played a part driving the turmoil at the paper.
In an internal church memo issued over the weekend, Rev. Moon’s daughter said the shakeup at the paper was against the wishes of Rev. Moon.
Besides addressing the future of the Times, Slevin’s memo also criticizes reporting about developments at the paper.
He says that the Internet has “opened the way for less credible media sources to report factually inaccurate stories, which, unfortunately, take on a life of their own.” He asks that “you read certain newspaper and blog reports about this organization with a discerning eye.” Reached at the Times office late this afternoon, Slevin declined to comment.
Miniter alleges in his EEOC complaint that he was discriminated against on the basis of age, disability, and religion — that is, being made to attend a Unification Church mass wedding ceremony when he was reportedly working as a consultant at the paper last December. Miniter’s complaint says that he was asked to work from home in July and that he was terminated in October, and Slevin says in the memo that Miniter “has been at home for some time.” Strangely, though, Miniter’s name remained near the top of the Times masthead in today’s edition.
Here is the full memo:
A Word from the Publisher
The Washington Times on November 9 announced upper management moves designed to help keep pace with the ever changing media marketplace. As you know, we are dealing with the same challenges faced by many American families and businesses – limited resources and fiscal constraints – forcing us to make difficult choices among many competing priorities. Prior to these management changes, on November 6, John Solomon, executive editor for 20 months, tendered his resignation.
To keep the voice of The Washington Times vibrant during these challenging economic times, we are in the midst of an evaluation with regard to securing and enhancing our voice for the long term, in an environment that is increasingly dominated by digital media and the blogosphere. The opportunities that lie before us also gave rise to the reassessment of the type of leadership, vision and talent required to take us to the next phase. I anticipate that the coming weeks and months will bring additional changes to The Washington Times, yet rest assured that no matter what changes occur, we will continue to maintain the same spirited reporting on our news pages and online, and a robust alternative voice on our opinion pages.
Despite recent media reports about the leadership of The Washington Times, we continue to maintain the same commitment to our employees, readers and viewers that we always have – one of fairness and balance – in the workplace and in our newspaper. While the advent of the Internet has brought us all closer together and has given us the ability to share information instantaneously, it has also opened the way for less credible media sources to report factually inaccurate stories, which, unfortunately, take on a life of their own.
Due to recent public allegations and the alleged filing of a complaint with the EEOC by a Times editor, Richard Miniter, who has been at home for some time, I would like to stress publicly what Times employees know well. The Washington Times does not discriminate and does not tolerate discrimination. We operate within the law and require the same of employees. I am confident that once the charges raised by Mr. Miniter, are investigated, the company will be fully vindicated. The company has no further comment about this matter due to our policy of not giving out information about employees.
I would ask that during this time of transition you read certain newspaper and blog reports about this organization with a discerning eye. Many of our competitors enthusiastically repeat rumors, myths and misinformation. They are not acting in the best interest of their readers with this type of reporting, when their audiences are provided unsubstantiated rumor and innuendo as fact.
However, by maintaining focus on what is important – our readers and the quality of our reporting and other content – we can help ensure that The Washington Times remains a vital news organization now and into the future.
Jonathan Slevin
Acting President and Publisher
