In this week's Boston Phoenix, the "Don't Quote Me" column -- headlined "Black and white" -- described the controversy engendered by The New York Times Co.'s decision to unveil the Gainesville Guardian, a free paper targeted to Gainesville Florida's black community. In some quarters, there was criticism and skepticism about whether a big powerful mainstream media company was best suited to publish a black-oriented paper.
One of the Guardian's key assets -- and an important connection to the minority community -- was supposed to be Charlotte Roy, a founding member of the National Association of Black Journalists who was hired as its editor. Now according to columnist Richard Prince, who has followed the Guardian story very closely, Roy is mysteriously out as editor one day before the paper's debut.
Prince's column.
Prince's column suggests Roy and the Times brass may have been at odds over how to characterize the paper, given the sensitivity of its mission. In any event, her departure is a serious embarassment for the company.
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Media Log Addendum: Prince, who has been updating his column on Roy's departure all day, now quotes her as saying: "I just was called down and told that it wasn't a good fit. I'm job hunting. I want to find a good job. This was my dream job. I produced a wonderful product. The paper is excellent. Everybody I've been working with has said it is a remarkable job. I'm very proud."
In the course of reporting "Black and white," the New York Times Co. provided me with the names of some Gainesville residents who were supportive of the Guardian. I interviewed two of them. Reverend Kevin Thorpe said he had met with Roy and admitted he would have "been a little more leery...if someone outside the African-American community was editing the paper."
The other source, Larry McDaniel, who heads up a minority leadership training program, said "Charlotte Roy has impeccable credentials. She's done a good job of getting into the community."
I wonder how they feel now?