Shocker at Springfield Paper: Publisher, Editor, M.E. All Quit

By: E&P Staff and The Associated Press The publisher, editor and managing editor of Springfield's main daily have resigned.

In a memo e-mailed to State Journal-Register employees today, publisher Sue Schmitt said she, editor Barry Locher and managing editor Robert Pope were not asked to leave.

In excerpts of her memo published on the paper's Web site, Schmitt doesn't give a reason for the resignations. But she says they weren't because the three saw "something catastrophic just over the horizon."

The resignations come weeks after the newspaper offered a voluntary severance program to half its staff. It cited the need for flexibility as the newspaper adjusts to rapid changes in the industry.

GateHouse Media purchased the paper earlier this year and the severance offer was made last month.

An excerpt from the article at the newspaper's site follows.
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?We know our positions on the newspaper's masthead give us more visibility in the community than many employees, but we hope that not too much emphasis is placed on the choice to leave,? Schmitt said. ?We did not make this call because of an insider's view of something catastrophic just over the horizon.?

The State Journal-Register was purchased early this year by New York-based GateHouse Media Inc. from longtime owner Copley Press Inc. The purchase also included The Peoria Journal Star, The Courier in Lincoln, and The Galesburg-Register Mail. GateHouse later bought The Rockford Register Star from Gannett Co.

?We know the changes made this year have put The State Journal-Register in prime position to be extremely successful in years to come,? she said.

Schmitt said production manager Mike Kreppert has been named acting general manager, and that work has begun on an interim management structure for the newsroom. Schmitt was named publisher of The State Journal-Register in September 2006. She previously was editor of The Daily Breeze in Torrance, Calif.

Locher, who started with the paper as a 19-year-old photo intern in 1974, said he has made no immediate plans, but that his resignation was a joint decision with his family.

?This has been a most difficult decision for me and my family. However, I believe it is in my best interest,? said Locher, who was appointed editor in 1999.

?The State Journal-Register has always been ? and remains ? a class act. I have been quite lucky, and honored, to be a part of it all,? he said.

Pope joined the newspaper in 1995 as director of photography. He has been managing editor since 1999. In an announcement to the staff, Pope said he was grateful for his 12 years with the paper. He too said he has made no immediate plans.

?I want to thank each of you for the kindness and support you've shown me. Work with you made the last 12 years a pleasure personally and professionally,? he said.

The announcement comes about a month after the newspaper offered a voluntary severance program to nearly 150 employees. The newspaper has not set a target for how many employees managers hope participate, and no specific employees have been targeted.