Buscaglia Won't Join 'OC Register' -- 'Misrepresented' Qualifications

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By: E&P Staff On June 6, Marti Buscaglia was announced as the new publisher of The Orange County Register, to start July 9. Her last day at the Duluth News Tribune is this Friday, and a successor has been named.

But she won't be heading west after all.

N. Christian Anderson III, current publisher of the Register and president and CEO of Freedom Orange County Information, said in an internal memo today, "I regret that information came to light after we had announced Marti's appointment that precludes our being able to move forward with this decision. She has come forward to inform us that she misrepresented her educational qualifications on her resume, and agrees that it could harm her credibility with Freedom and the readers of the Register."

According to the Register, Buscaglia listed that she graduated from Lima University in Peru.

The paper had received Buscaglia's resume from executive recruiters when she was considered for other jobs within Freedom Communications.

Buscaglia, 54, declined to specify to E&P what she had misrepresented about her education, but said she informed the Register about it recently, giving no specific date.

"We talked about it together and I think it was very fair," she told E&P about conversations with Chris Anderson. "When I called them and told them, they were very fair and sensitive." She did not say when she informed the paper or why she had misled them in the past.

"I called them and came forward with it," she added. "I thought it was the right thing to do. I prefer not to talk about it."

"Credibility is a hallmark of Freedom and our products," Anderson said in a statement. "We agreed that this breach would make it impossible for her to fulfill her responsibilities. I respect Marti's decision to withdraw and know it is the right one. Marti has excellent experience and has served companies well in her 30-year career."

In the release, Buscaglia said, "I want to apologize to Chris Anderson and the community of Orange County."

Buscaglia, a 20-year newspaper veteran who has also worked in advertising, told E&P she hopes to remain in the news business.

"Absolutely, I love this industry and I've got a pretty good reputation in this industry, this aside," she said. "I don't want to do anything else." She has served as Duluth publisher for the past five years.

Buscaglia also serves as president of the International Newspaper Marketing Association (INMA). Earl Wilkinson, executive director of INMA, said she continue in that role.

For now, Anderson will continue as publisher and CEO of the Register, a position he has held for more than eight years.


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