Managing Editor Luna Is Out At 'Ventura County Star'

By: Mark Fitzgerald Managing Editor Richard Luna has left the Ventura County Star, days after the head of human resources for parent E.W. Scripps Co. finished an investigation into how the paper disciplined him for violating the company's ethics code.

Luna, who was reportedly disliked by many, was escorted into the newsroom Sunday to clear out personal effects, according to reporters who asked for anonymity. What would normally have been a deserted newsroom was filled with staff because of a computer malfunction that paralyzed newspaper production Saturday night and through much of Sunday.

"So the walk of shame got more shameful," one reporter said.

Publisher Tim Gallagher confirmed Monday that Luna had left the paper. "Friday was his last day of employment," Gallagher said.

Gallagher added that the investigation by Mary E. Minser, Scripps' director of employee relations, "found no further violations of Scripps ethical policy." He said he could not comment beyond that. Editor Joe Howry was scheduled to hold a meeting with staff later Monday to advise them formally of Luna's departure, Gallagher said.

Earlier this month, Star officials acknowledged, in response to a report on E&P's Web site, that Luna had been disciplined for pressuring a sports reporter into getting him credentials to attend the NCAA championship basketball game in Indianapolis in April. Luna did not cover the game, and, according to the paper, sought credentials for other games that, in the end, he did not attend.

The ethics violation, and the way it was handled by Star management, caused an uproar in the newsroom, leading to a staff meeting. There were allegations from some staffers of other ethics violations, and of behavior not related to the newspaper that some found distasteful.

On May 3, Luna told E&P he was "very, very sorry for what happened." He declined to discuss the other allegations. He could not be reached Monday.

Luna said then that he had apologized to the paper's publisher and top editor, and to members of his newsroom management team.

"I am trying to meet with as many of the newsroom staff as I can so I can apologize face-to-face," he added at that time.

This marks the third time Luna has left a newspaper suddenly. Luna joined the Star as managing editor in August 2004. Five months before, he had abruptly left the Detroit News, where he was metro editor. Press reports at the time noted that the year before he had also suddenly left his position as managing editor of the Indianapolis Star.