More 'SB News-Press' Departures Bring Staff Exits to 22 Since July

By: Joe Strupp Another handful of employees departed from the embattled Santa Barbara News-Press this week, including Life Editor Andrea Huebner and Photo Chief Len Wood, bringing the number of staffers who have left the paper during its recent upheaval to 22.

In addition, Huebner, who was fired Tuesday after seven years at the paper, and Wood, who quit the same day, were the last remaining newsroom department heads at the paper since the recent string of resignations began July 6. The previous former editors who have left include Executive Editor Jerry Roberts, Managing Editor George Foulsham, Sports Editor Gerry Spratt, Business Editor Michael Todd, and Copy Desk Chief Colin Powers.

Also let go was Colby Frazier, a recently appointed metro reporter who had been a sports stringer in the past. News-Press spokeswoman Agnes Huff declined to comment on the departures, saying only that two people had been terminated and that Wood had resigned. "I don't know what the circumstances were," she told E&P. "It is an internal matter. I know that Mr. Frazier was a probationary employee."

Huff said that the paper had hired at least 19 new staffers to replace the departed workers since the recent troubles began. "Is this impacting the paper? No, the newspaper gets out everyday," Huff said. "Has it been challenging? Yes it has."

Huebner declined to comment, while Wood could not be reached for comment.

The Santa Barbara Independent, and sources at the paper, contend that Huebner's firing was the result of a recent column that indirectly criticized Dr. Laura Schlessinger, the national talk show therapist who has been writing a column for the paper.

In a Sept. 5 column, Dr. Michael Seabaugh, a local psychiatrist who penned a weekly column for the News-Press, made a reference to Dr. Laura, noting that she "may have the cajones to preach against tolerating diversity, but personally, I will not spend one more minute of this precious time I have intolerant of the wonderful diversity of my fellow humans."

Seabaugh's column resulted in a printed apology to Dr. Laura that appeared Sept. 8 and stated, "The News-Press asked Dr. Laura to offer her opinions, views and expertise in our newspaper knowing that not all of our readers will agree with her opinions. We also know our readers don't always agree with the opinions or views of all of our other columnists or writers. The Santa Barbara News-Press wants to apologize fully for Dr. Seabaugh's comment. We have apologized to Dr. Laura Schlessinger privately and we also wanted to do so publicly."

The incident also prompted editors to take Seabaugh's weekly column away, sources said, in addition to terminating Huebner.

The recent departures, first reported in the Independent, come as the newsroom is preparing to vote on whether to be represented by an International Brotherhood of Teamsters bargaining unit. That vote is set for Sept. 27 at the non-union paper, with 50 rank-and-file workers eligible to vote.