By: E&P Staff Little has emerged from the Sacramento Bee since late last week, when it was announced that longtime Editor Rick Rodriguez was suddenly out the door, over some vague differences with management concerning "direction."
E&P has made about a dozen calls trying to learn more, to no avail.
Today, the Sacramento Bee Guild leadership sent a memo to employees. It was first posted at the Romenesko site at www.poynter.org. Here is an excerpt.
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Full disclosure is part of our newsroom culture. As such, the lack of candor surrounding the resignation of Rick Rodriguez is disturbing to those of us who believe in the power of the truth.
Rick Rodriguez had a difficult job in leading The Bee during a period of declining resources. Many within the newsroom are unsure how to feel about his departure. Did he leave standing up for us and for journalistic principles? Or does the truth lie elsewhere?
We'd like to believe Janis Heaphy?s assertion that the editor's resignation was not about resources. Given the recent pressure to reduce costs and without more information, we don't know what to believe.
Employees, through the Guild, can offer a rich resource of collective experience, wisdom and interest to guide our future. It's disappointing to feel that we are being kept out of the loop. Real leadership, we believe, requires a fully informed and engaged workforce.
We hope that the new executive editor, whoever that person may be, will work with the guild as well as existing management to chart a course through challenging times ahead.
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