Tom Brossart is out as editor, "laid-off" according to one source. Pete Aleshire is the new editor and has already assumed Brossart's duties.
According to a second source inside the Roundup, Advertising Director Bobby Davis has also been demoted, although none of the changes had been listed on the Roundup's website as of Thursday morning.
EDITORIAL COMMENT:
The Roundup's difficulties stem from its reputation as little more than a cheerleader for Payson Mayor Kenny Evans and his four-year university pipedream. Since Publisher John Naughton and Aleshire have basically been making the editorial decisions anyway, a change in editors is not likely to make any difference.
Until the Roundup is willing to assume the role it once had as a fair and responsible voice willing to let all sides be heard, instead of shilling for the mayor and the business community, it will continue to struggle. There are too many intelligent people in this community who know what good journalism is and who refuse to support anything less.
It's so simple, so basic. It's what made the print Rim Country Gazette so popular. But don't hold your breath. A major change in direction is not likely.
7 comments:
More than the relationship with the mayor, I have always been disgusted with the promulgation of radical right wing views found in this rag. Openly pandering to this element,has crowded out most balanced reporting and fairminded views.
Why didn't you post my comment about the Gazette's financial troubles?
Again, you are doing the same, if not worse than what you accuse the Roundup of doing
Hi Pete:
Can't guarantee the following comment came from you, but it certainly fits your "style." Regardless, I want the author to have his say, as long as I can make a brief response to each of the points:
READER'S COMMENT:
"Until the Roundup is willing to assume the role it once had as a fair and responsible voice willing to let all sides be heard.........it will continue to struggle."
Could that be part of the reason why the Rim Country Gazette didn't survive?
MY RESPONSE:
Nope. You can accuse the Gazette of a lot of things, but dishonest journalism isn't one of them. We stand by our integrity and challenge you to provide an example of anything less.
THE READER'S COMMENT CONTINUES:
"It's so simple, so basic. It's what made the Rim Country Gazette so popular."
If it's as simple and basic as you now think, you would still be in print. You are farther to the left than the Roundup is to the right.
I guess the "intelligent people in this community who know what good journalism is" spoke some time ago.
MY RESPONSE:
Funny, our Blog post scooping the Roundup's own personnel shake-up story never mentioned right vs. left. Yes, we surely do take a position on the Gazette Blog that is left of the Roundup, but we never stop people like you who disagree with us from having your say - as we just did here. You cannot say the same.
Jim Keyworth
Gazette Blog Editor
P.S. "Early retirement" is NOT the way this personnel change was characterized by a Roundup higher up speaking to one of our inside sources.
AGAIN, ALL WE ASK FOR IS JOURNALISTIC INTEGRITY AND HONESTY.
Anybody who doubts how much the print Gazette is missed just needs to look at the Roundup's circulation. It tumbled when the Gazette came on the scene and it still hasn't gotten its readers back now that the Gazette is gone. Every day I hear somebody say they miss the Gazette. Every day I hear somebody say they no longer read the Roundup. And I'm just an average Rim Country citizen.
Aleshire's the editor? What's that old saying about the fox getting in the henhouse?
The Roundup pats Brossart on his copious behind for winning that "big" newspaper award four years in a row. So has every other editor the Roundup has ever had going back many years. What's the big deal? Being the best among the mediocre non-dailies in this state sure isn't. Remember the Copper Country News? That's the kind of competition we're talking about.
The Gazette newspaper did not fail for lack of interest or for controversial views. Money (in the form of a financial backer) was the only reason. The Roundup has a newspaper chain to fund them.
Also, The Roundup made not-so-subtle suggestions to many of their advertisers that placing ads in the Gazette would be considered as against their best interests.
The Gazette was and still is the balanced Voice of the People.
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