Washington Times Shakeup: Top Executives Out, Editor In Limbo, Expected To Resign

Three top executives are out at the conservative Washington Times, and the newspaper's editor remains in limbo.

The company announced Monday that the company's chairman, President/Publisher, and CFO have all been removed from their positions.

Jonathan Slevin, previously a Vice President at the company, has been named acting president and publisher.

Politico's Michael Calderone reports that the paper's top editor, John Solomon, is "in his cabin in western Virginia considering his options at the paper." Solomon did not attend meeting Monday morning during which Slevin briefed the newspaper's staff on the executive changes.

Talking Points Memo reports, based on information from two sources, that Solomon is expected to resign.

Update: White House reporter Jon Ward is also leaving the Washington Times. Ward will join Tucker Carlson's website, The Daily Caller. Read Ward's email announcing the move below:

From: Jon Ward
Date: Mon, Nov 9, 2009 at 2:35 PM
Subject: I've taken a new job
To: Jon Ward


I'm excited to announce that I have accepted a job as senior political and White House reporter for "The Daily Caller," the new political news website being launched by Tucker Carlson and Neil Patel. Tucker and Neil are assembling a strong team of reporters and multi-media savants to form an aggressive and edgy offering for the new media environment. I'm joining the team because they have offered me the unique chance to play a leadership role in creating an infant news organization that we expect to become a go-to site for political news. I'm exciting to continue covering the Obama presidency and Washington politics for a new outlet, continuing to focus on good, hard-hitting journalism that is down the middle and fair.

As I told Tucker the first time I met him, I'm invigorated by the opportunity to inhabit the new media space while reincarnating timeless journalistic values: objectivity, depth, creativity, curiosity, and a healthy skepticism of politicians and bureaucrats that doesn't get in the way of being plugged in to Washington's web of relationships. I also think the Daily Caller's revenue-based compensation system for freelance work is going to be an innovative and precedent-setting part of being successful in a web-only venture.

I owe a debt of gratitude to the Washington Times. I was lucky to learn journalism on the local news desk -- an increasingly rare training ground these days -- and then had the amazing fortune to cover the last two years of the Bush presidency and then President Obama's first year in office. It has been quite a ride. Along the way I've gotten to know you and am looking forward to working with you in my new role. I look forward to talking soon!

You now have my new email address, and my cell phone will continue to be [redacted].

Jon

Comments

[anywho]

Tabloids and cartoons aside, I would suggest the Washington Times might hire Orly Taits (spelling???) as a replacement for those fired, she'll keep the cult roiling!

[LeeCalif]

Such lack of quality moving to continued lack of quality.

Stay classy, Tuck.

[jalowe1957]

The Washington Times: All the trash that was deemed fit to print before the garbage was taken out.

[lukebenward]

I just came back half a day later to revisit this situation and have another chuckle.

Hitching your star to Tucker Carlson's wagon, or however the cowboy analogy goes. lol My goodness....

[highflag]

Hitching one's wagon to Tucker Carlson is akin to volunteering to ride with Custer...

[future primitive]

The Reverend Sun Myung Moon, Lord of the Second Advent and Times founder, could not be reached for comment.

[LouStools]

I am waiting for O'liely to comment on the failure of the paper? Should I hold my breath?

[escribacat]

Do all the employees have to wear a bowtie?

[tuckgraph]

Would love to know more about "the Daily Caller's revenue-based compensation system for freelance work..." Like corporations paying shills to promote their propaganda? That's got to give the Troll Nation a Woody!

[sasidechick]

exactly!!

I loved when he said "... I'm exciting to continue". Good to see all that experience you gained there put to work!

Let's hope they hire a proofreader!!

[Hollyhock988]

Or at the very least, learn to use spellcheck.

[MajorKong]

Mmmmmmmm. Nothing like a hot, steaming cup of schadenfreude.

[larry278]

The Washington Times, aka Moonshine over Washington, DC, seems to have problems constantly. Could it be that Rev Moon's Washington Times will fold before the NY Post, aka Pissed, the WAPO, NYT or the NY Daily News, aka Dilly Snooze?

[josephXY]

Thing is, news and reports about the media are often far more interesting than what is in them.
For instance, there is a site dedicated to newspapers:
http://www.newspaperdeathwatch.com/

and another one to folding magazines:
http://www.magazinedeathpool.com/

[future primitive]

Nice links. Thanks.

[Hopeington]

very interesting, thanks

[InfinteShibumi]

I have difficulty taking reporters from the Washington Times seriously. The paper is run by a bonafide cult, IMO. (Isn't there separation of media and (gulp) religion?) I wonder how Blankley et al. look at themselves in the morning. No doubt they wish they wrote for the more august Wall Street Journal.

[roshni]

Tucker carlson - BWAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

[larry278]

Show Tucker Carlson a bit of respect, roshini; capitolize(sic?) the 1st letter of his last name. Take care when writing his 1st name; don't substitute an, 'f', for the t in Tucker's 1st name. It's the least you can do. FWIW, no sentient being will ever do more than the absolute least one can do for TC.

[roshni]

I am going to give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you are kidding.

Nice suggestiong to replace the first letter with an f. Very appropriate.

[Budokan]

LOL, from limbo to total non-existence.....