Boulder Weekly fires editor, lays off staff
The future of Boulder Weekly is in question following the recent firing of the editor and subsequent layoffs of the entire reporting staff by the 32-year-old alt-weekly’s owner.
Former editor Shay Castle revealed in the paper’s newsletter, sent to approximately 20,000 subscribers, that she was let go on July 2 due to ongoing conflicts with ownership and concerns over their practices.
In a LinkedIn post on Tuesday, Castle announced that the entire Boulder Weekly team, excluding the special projects manager and bookkeeper, was terminated. It was reported that the owner was in discussions to sell or salvage parts of the publication. While there may be a future for the Weekly in some capacity, it is likely that the original team responsible for its success in recent years will not be part of it.
According to the Boulder Weekly website, the editorial staff consisted of Castle, an arts editor, two full-time reporters, along with the special projects manager. Other roles included a circulation manager, creative director, graphic designer, and various sales and marketing positions. Castle initiated a fundraiser for the former employees of the Weekly, which can be found at mightycause.com/story/Ub4smf.
Castle declined to provide further comments, while owner and founder Stewart Sallo did not respond to interview requests. The most recent post on the paper’s website was on July 2, with the last print edition dated July 3.
In a December article, Castle informed readers that Sallo intended to retire and collaborate with the staff on transitioning to employee ownership. The Weekly launched a campaign to raise $10,000 through the Colorado Gives Foundation to explore a co-op model. The goal was to involve community members in business decisions and profits sharing.
Castle sent an update to donors through the campaign last week, stating that the needed funds were raised, and a grant was secured for a feasibility analysis. However, communication ceased once Sallo signed the contract for the study, causing concern among employees. Castle’s objections to the lack of communication and pressure to prioritize advertisers’ news coverage were cited as reasons for her dismissal.
John Lehndorff, who served as the Boulder Weekly’s food editor for a decade, expressed disappointment over the limited communication regarding the paper’s future before the staff layoffs. He mentioned unresolved payment for his last work and the need to find a new platform for his food column.
Lehndorff emphasized the importance of continuing his food-related programs on KGNU and expressed hope for finding a new home for his column. Despite the challenges faced, he remains optimistic about exploring new opportunities to share engaging food content.
Receive more Colorado news by subscribing to our daily Your Morning Dozen email newsletter.
Originally Published:
