San Diego Scribe Says He Was Fired After 54 Years

By: Seth Hettena, Associated Press Writer (AP) Neil Morgan, a veteran columnist and editor at The San Diego Union-Tribune, left the newspaper Wednesday, saying he was fired after 54 years.

Morgan, who has written more than 10,000 columns, often criticizing powerful figures in the community, said he was not told the reasons for his dismissal.

Morgan, 80, said he believes he angered a senior newspaper executive who had shared information with him about "a prominent San Diegan." He said the executive accused him of lying to others about their conversation.

"What I've spent my life doing mostly is trying to be the moderate, if not liberal voice, on a conservative newspaper and it's been uphill all the way," Morgan said. "I've had tremendous support from management until now."

Hal Fuson, a lawyer for Copley Press, which publishes the Union-Tribune and eight other daily newspapers, declined to comment on what he characterized as a personnel matter.

Morgan said he's retained an attorney and was negotiating a settlement with his former employer. Morgan said he was offered his old job back but refused.

"The well was poisoned," he said.

Morgan was named chief editor of The San Diego Tribune in 1981. When the Tribune merged with the Union in 1992, he was named associate editor and senior columnist.

In February, Editor Karin Winner reportedly handed him a letter explaining that his position would be eliminated at the end of March.

Morgan said Winner told him, "It's time to cut the chain," and declined to say more.

Winner declined to discuss Morgan's departure, saying she had been asked not to talk about it, but praised his work at the paper.

"He's going to be missed in this newsroom and by many of our readers," she said.

In 1987, under Morgan's leadership, the Tribune won one of its two Pulitzer Prizes.

Dozens of teary staffers gathered around Morgan on Wednesday as he prepared to leave his office and gave him an ovation.