Monday, November 24, 2008
News CL fires Editor Ken Edelstein
Posted by Thomas Wheatley @thomaswheatley on Mon, Nov 24, 2008 at 8:41 PM
In a move that stunned staffers, Creative Loafing Atlanta Publisher Luann Labedz announced this morning that Editor Ken Edelstein was fired. A tearful editorial staff followed him out of the building to say goodbye.
Labedz said Edelstein's firing was a "confidential personnel matter" and that she could not elaborate. A call to Edelstein reached his voicemail.
“This was an involuntary termination,” Edelstein told the AJC. “I feel very comfortable that I did the right thing, and I love my staff.”
Atlanta Magazine senior editor — and former CL staffer — Steve Fennessy has been covering CL's ongoing Chapter 11 filing and has more details on Edelstein's firing, including comments from John Sugg, a former CL editor.
Edelstein joined CL's staff as a senior writer and became managing editor in 1998. Two years later, he was named editor of the paper. Prior to joining CL Edelstein worked 10 years for the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer and was a freelance journalist in Washington, D.C., Australia and Mexico.
During his decade leading the editorial staff, the paper has won more than 30 regional and national awards for investigative reporting, news writing, columnists, criticism, food writing and other categories. While at the helm, Edelstein helped shift the paper's focus on listings to more hard news and investigative journalism. Recently, Edelstein has led a dedicated effort to increase CL's online presence despite budget restraints and cuts to his team.
No word yet on Edelstein's replacement.
Comments (17)
Showing 1-17 of 17
This is truly sad news. Ken did a great job holding everyone together through rough times. He continued to push for high editorial standards and true journalism despite the ongoing hardships that the company endured. I'm proud of Ken for fighting for his staff and holding true to his beliefs. As a former staff member, I know the remaining CL staff will get through this tough blow and continue to strive for the best.
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this is bad. this is very bad. ken, there are a lot of us who appreciate the great work you did. sad news, indeed. best of luck with your future endeavors.
I feel sorry for Ken and his family. However, professionally, the chickens are coming home to roast. CL has declined dramatically in recent years and turned into a tabloid. Ken has to accept his share of blame for this decline. Hopefully, the new leader will restore the credibility of the once great alternative weekly.
Maybe if you had spent less time trashing other media outlets in the city, and instead improving the quality at your own troubled publication, things would have worked out a little differently. Instead, you're out on your can. Good luck getting freelancing gigs. There's one big fish left in Atlanta. Guess how likely they're going to be at letting your sorry ass string for them? Say it with me: "Would you like fries with that?"
My god. I'm so sorry to hear this. I'm keeping every finger crossed for Ken and for CL. I don't need any more company in the unemployment line.
Ken - I truly hate to hear this and wish you the best of luck. I have always appreciated your sense of fair play, especially when I was voicing som epretty unpopular opinions. "Goodbye, loser" - you are a dick and the handle should read "Goodbye, from a loser". Try a little sensitivity for a good guy who just took a hard hit.
Ken, Love the paper, love your staff. Really sad at the change at CL, and I wish you the best of luck!
Such histrionics. Colmes managed to exit FNC gracefully. Y'all better pull it together. And fast. It's rough out here.
This is a huge loss to the paper, made worse by Andisheh's upcoming departure as reported by Atlanta magazine last night. Sending good vibes to the remaining CL staffers for what lies ahead. It will be difficult, and you all deserve far better.
Ken -- you did an excellent job covering the emperor's new wardrobe for all these years, thanks for calling it like it was. It's a shame that Eason is a stammering child who, like so many newspaper and/or magazine publishers in this state, can't stand to be challenged. And what a classy note from "Goodbye Loser," or should I say, "John Mellott," or is it "Julia Wallace?"
As a new reporter working in the Metroarea I have relied on CL over the past two years to fill me in on news in the Capitol. You guys have been great in your coverage of Atlanta, covering issues that the AJC barely touches. I'm really sad to hear about Edelstein's termination. Remaining CL staffers hang in there, our industry is going through the crucible right now but I do believe we will come out of this stronger (though smaller) with a sharper focus on the issues that are really important for a healthy civic dialogue. Go Non-profits!! Lets be profitable but not profit-maximizing.
Interesting to note these comments are being moderated by CL. Hmmm....a sign of things to come with the departure of Ken?
I was on staff at CL Atlanta when Ken became managing editor. It was a great day. I worked under Ken in the news department and he never ceased to be an inspiration, even if it came in the shape of a thorn in my side. Before Ken was running the paper, things were a mess. The previous ME was a holdover from the days when CL was a bunch of hippies playing fast and loose with the news (aside from Greg's amazing Capitol reports). Ken took a paper that was being run by a music editor and turned it into something real, something readers could chew on for more than few minutes. I know the content will drift in his absence, and I'm more than sure the newsroom won't be the same without Ken.
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