BALTIMORE (AP) — The Baltimore Solar’s longtime managing editor is retiring and can quickly get replaced by one other newsroom veteran — the primary main staffing shakeup for the reason that newspaper was bought to media mogul David D. Smith and his associate, conservative commentator Armstrong Williams, earlier this yr.
Sam Davis, 64, turned the newspaper’s first Black managing editor in 2016 after becoming a member of its newsroom as an editorial assistant in 1980. The west Baltimore native mentioned he had deliberate for this yr to be his final earlier than retiring, the newspaper reported Tuesday in a narrative saying the change.
“It simply appeared like a very good time to perhaps transfer on,” Davis mentioned. “I’ve simply been doing this for a very long time.”
Smith, govt chairman of the Sinclair broadcasting chain and an lively contributor to conservative causes, purchased The Solar from the funding agency Alden World Capital, which is understood for slicing prices and gutting newsrooms. The brand new proprietor’s political involvement and the protection fashion of his tv stations have drawn concern from Solar staffers and media specialists.
Sinclair Broadcasting Inc. owns or operates 185 native tv stations throughout the nation and is understood for infusing a right-wing sensibility into its information merchandise. In 2018, the corporate ordered its anchors throughout the nation to learn a press release that largely echoed what former President Donald Trump had mentioned about “faux information.”
The Sinclair-owned Fox station in Baltimore steadily airs protection blaming the town’s Democratic mayor, Brandon Scott, for gun violence and failing colleges. And Smith has turn into a outstanding participant in native politics.
Tricia Bishop, the opinion and options content material director who began at The Solar in 1999, will take over newsroom administration later this month. Bishop has labored as a reporter, editorial author, columnist and op-ed web page editor.
“I’m each honored and humbled to have been chosen to comply with in Sam’s footsteps,” Bishop mentioned.
Writer Trif Alatzas wrote in an announcement to employees that Davis will work as a advisor in coming months to assist construct The Solar’s new mother or father firm.
“Due to new, native possession, we’re making investments within the enterprise as we launch our new firm,” Alatzas wrote. “We’re centered on innovating and making key adjustments in an business that must be much more nimble, pressing and collaborative so we will higher place our enterprise for the longer term.”
Baltimore Solar Media, winner of 16 Pulitzer Prizes, publishes seven different publications apart from the Solar. The Solar was based in 1837 and has since turn into the most important newspaper in Maryland.
