FishbowlNY
Erik Wemple, former Washington City Paper editor and the recently-announced editor of the Village Voice, has stepped down from the position he never had and returned to the position he barely left. Wemple, who met with the Voice staff on Monday, suddenly pulled out over issues of "newsroom management." Michael Lacey, executive editor of Village Voice Media, called Wemple's concerns "reasonable," saying: "The Voice is an enormous and complex horse race. We asked Erik to mount several ponies mid-stride, and he was alarmed to find us still in several of those saddles."
He was to start on July 24. Full statements from both parties after the jump.
From Wemple:
I'm sorry to say that I will not be taking the editor's position at the Village Voice. I met with the staff earlier this week and very much enjoyed our time together. However, the paper's ownership and I have failed to come to terms in our many discussions about moving forward, particularly with respect to newsroom management. I continue to believe that the people at Village Voice Media are committed to a great editorial product, as evidenced by the great newspapers that they publish across the country, and I'm confident that the Voice will produce excellent journalism under their guidance.
From Village Voice management:
June 15, 2006This morning Erik Wemple announced that he'd changed his mind about becoming editor of the Village Voice. A new father, Wemple decided to remain in his old position as the editor at City Paper in Washington, D.C.
We wish him well.
Although Wemple accepted the job of editor-in-chief of the historic Voice--even introducing himself to the staff--subsequent discussions revealed disagreements over newsroom management.
"Erik's concerns are not unreasonable," said Michael Lacey, executive editor of Village Voice Media. "The Voice is an enormous and complex horse race. We asked Erik to mount several ponies mid-stride, and he was alarmed to find us still in several of those saddles."
