Veteran News-Press photo chief Len
Wood has given notice and two other newsroom staffers have
been fired, including Life editor Andrea
Huebner.
Huebner was fired for allowing Dr. Michael
Seabaugh’s column criticizing fellow columnist
Laura Schlessinger to appear, according to
sources. The News-Press ran an apology to “Dr.” Laura for Seabaugh’s comments.
We also understand that Dr. Seabaugh has resigned as a result.
Wood and Huebner were the last remaining editors of those on the
job when the newsroom meltdown began over two months ago. Along
with the firing of Colby Frazier, a former sports
stringer recently promoted to metro reporter, this brings the total
of departed staff to 22.
Wood gave notice Monday, a day after the News-Press
published part-time photog Ana Fuentes’ emotional commentary in which she blamed her
supervisors for not doing enough about Todd’s alleged threat to
her. Todd says it was all a joke. Meanwhile, the injunction the
N-P seeks against him is still pending.
Huebner was promoted to the Life job after the paper laid off
longtime editor Gary Robb a few months ago.
Frazier was considered pro-union while Huebner, who was not
eligible to vote in the upcoming union election, was thought to be
neutral.
In the countdown to the scheduled September 27 vote on the
newsroom affiliating with the Teamsters’ union, every vote counts
and considerable jockeying has been going on. In the ongoing drama
on the second floor at De la Guerra Plaza, the question is who will
be named to Huebner’s position.