Interim Editor Named at 'Chicago Defender' as Martin Leaves Early

By: Mark Fitzgerald Two months before he was to leave when his contract expired, Roland S. Martin is out as executive editor of the Chicago Defender, the CEO of the black-oriented daily's publisher, Real Times Media, said in an e-mail that went out to employees Friday afternoon.

CEO Hiram Jackson said in a that Glenn Reedus had been named to the job on an interim basis while the search for a permanent executive editor continues. Reedus was identified as an "onsite consultant" who had been at the paper since Jan. 8.

The e-mail said Martin has been "re-assigned" to work within Real Times.

"He will assist with the transition and other assignments involving the Real Times newspapers in Detroit, Mich.; Memphis, Tenn.; and Pittsburgh," Jackson said.

Martin, who worked on a contract basis at the paper through his media firm, announced last month that he was leaving the paper when the contract ends at the end of March.