The Washington Times had a major shakeup in top management last night, with three executives leaving the company. TPM has also learned that Executive Editor John Solomon, hired in January 2008, may also be leaving the newspaper.
Solomon declined to comment this morning when reached by TPMDC.
Solomon, who was hired away from the Washington Post and spent more than a decade with the Associated Press, could not be reached for comment today, but two newsroom sources said they expect him to resign.
David Jones, managing editor of The Times, said this morning that Solomon “is taking a few days to consider his options.” Management plans to brief staffers on the changes today. The Times did announce that Publisher Tom McDevitt, Chief Finance Officer Keith Cooperrider and Chairman Doug Joo are leaving.
Jones said that Jonathan Slevin, a vice president at the paper, is now acting president and publisher.
Solomon was named executive editor at the newspaper in January 2008. Here’s the introduction he gave to the Times newsroom after joining the newspaper.
Solomon is considered by newsroom staffers as aggressive but has also earned praise from Washington, D.C. news executives as he has added reporters to the paper. He has recruited two Washington Post staffers, Jeff Birnbaum and Matthew Mosk, to top positions at The Times. Since joining the paper, Solomon has helped create a radio program and invested heavily in the Web site.
On the staff shakeup, Marketing Director Karen Gruenberg told TPM this morning, “I don’t have any more information than what you do.”
Late Update: Here’s the official announcement from the newspaper.
Washington Times to Assess Positioning in Response to Market Changes;
New Management Team to Focus on Sustainability PlanningWASHINGTON, DC – The Washington Times LLC today announced that it is continuing on its path toward a sustainable multimedia news enterprise involving leadership expertise from within The Washington Times and directed by its Board of Directors and its parent company, News World Communications LLC.
Today’s industry conditions and the general economic downturn necessitate this team-based assessment, planning, and subsequent implementation of a plan to enable The Times to become a sustainable multimedia company in today’s challenging news industry environment.
Jonathan Slevin has been named Acting President and Publisher of The Washington Times. Tatum executive services and other specialists are providing assistance to a new Washington Times leadership team. The process will clarify the steps needed to achieve the goal of a market-based, financially sustainable media enterprise.
Mr. Slevin previously served as a vice president of The Washington Times, was managing editor of the New York City Tribune, held executive business management positions in other industries, and is the author of several books. He comes from a journalism family that includes his late father, a reporter on the political economy and former president of The National Press Club, his cousin who was formerly editorial page editor of The Los Angeles Times, and his uncle, editor in chief of The Baltimore Sun and a Pulitzer-prize winning reporter in international affairs.
Thomas P. McDevitt has been relieved of his duties as president and publisher of The Washington Times. Keith Cooperrider, former chief financial officer of The Washington Times, has also been relieved of his duties, as well as Dong Moon Joo, who was serving in a titular role as chairman.
“The Washington Times values the highest standards of journalism and a commitment to serving the citizens of our democratic form of government with the news they need to make informed decisions on matters in our vital collective and personal interests,” said Slevin. “Our assessment team looks forward to emerging with a market-based plan that supports the sustainability of The Washington Times and advances the Times’ role as an important source of news and opinion for readers who value a diversity of information and analysis.”
Late Late Update: Over at the Politico, Michael Calderone notes there’s been “speculation that changes at the Times could be associated with last month’s handover of power in the Unification Church, the paper’s owner. The Rev. Sun Myung Moon, who turns 90 in January, handed over power to his three sons.”
