News-Leader fires reporter over Pride ban email
The News-Leader has terminated veteran journalist Julia Roberts following her disclosure of an internal decision by publisher Todd Frantz to prohibit coverage of the city’s annual Pride parade and festival.
Roberts, who had covered the Fernandina Beach City Commission and the Ocean Highway and Port Authority for the twice-weekly newspaper, was dismissed last Wednesday — one day after she attended a city commission meeting. In an unusual move, coverage of that meeting appeared in the News-Leader's Friday edition under the byline of a reporter from a sister paper in Lake City.
The firing followed an email Roberts sent to Jordan Morris, president of Fernandina Beach Pride, in which she informed him that the newspaper would not be publishing photos or a press release about the June 7 Pride event, which drew over 3,000 attendees.
“I hate even typing these words, but our publisher has made the decision not to allow us to write about Pride,” Roberts wrote in the email. “We pleaded our case, but he was not to be convinced ... I loved attending and participating. I will continue to support you in any way I can.”
The email, sent the Monday following the event, came after internal discussions within the News-Leader newsroom about covering the popular parade and festival, which had been featured in the newspaper in previous years. Publisher Frantz, who took over in March, reportedly told staff that such coverage would no longer be permitted.
After Roberts’ email became public — following coverage in The Observer — community backlash prompted the News-Leader to reverse course. A photo spread from the Pride event appeared on the back page of the June 11 edition, as well as online.
According to multiple sources familiar with the situation, Roberts signed a non-disclosure agreement as part of a termination settlement and is unable to speak publicly about the incident. Frantz has not responded to repeated requests for comment.
“The way the new publishers treated the newsroom staff while I was away, the opinion pieces that have been written without my involvement and yet another correction on the front page were beyond my ethical boundaries,” Dishman wrote to colleagues.
“As you may be aware, the News-Leader is undergoing changes with new publishers who are taking the publication in a direction that conflicts with the journalistic values, integrity and community focus I’ve championed during my tenure. Given these irreconcilable differences, I have moved forward in my career and am excited about new opportunities that align with both my personal and professional convictions.”
Roberts had been serving as acting editor in the wake of Dishman’s resignation.
The News-Leader is Florida's oldest continually published weekly newspaper, founded by Senator David L. Yulee and first published Aug. 9, 1854.
Comments
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rswarner
Frantz immediately turns this "conservative newspaper" into a propaganda publishing rag by two demonstrative actions. First - a directive not to cover. Two - a firing of a long term trusted reporter for reporting a critical component of the truth reporting process. Trust once lost, is hard to regain. Truth matters in our small area. Trust matters as well, Todd.
truth matters.
Monday, June 23 Report this
KarenS
My husband and I are retired journalists, and have always been big supporters of local newspapers. This morning, we are canceling our subscription to the News-Leader and sending those dollars your way. The News-Leader has been going downhill since Peg Davis left and Foy Malloy retired. But the new publisher clearly has no concept of the role a local newspaper should play in the community, and no understanding of journalistic ethics. This is a sad day for Fernandina Beach.
Monday, June 23 Report this
BBillings
I honestly do not understand why so many people are so upset that a news publication didn't report - on the non-story - that a bunch of gay people went to the park one day.
Does your publication report whenever straight people go to the park?
I thought not .....
Monday, June 23 Report this
charlesebrown
This is good news. No reporter should undermine the publisher of a newspaper in an attempt to support a group that the publisher has determined the paper will not be part of a congratulate whoever made the decision the fire this reporter and think it was the right decision you have got to have trust and support from your employees in any business and she broke that trust severely. Thank you.
Monday, June 23 Report this
StanMar5
Julia Roberts is a great reporter, and well respected in our community. I hope Julia will stay local, and use her talents to continue to deliver news and information to those of us who respect her talents.
Monday, June 23 Report this
DouglasM
We discontinued our subscription to the NL over 15 years ago, so I could care less what their editorial positions are......BUT, any employee who undermines their boss will be fired from any job that I've ever seen. Julia should have resigned immediately after sending her letter. When she didn't resign (like Dishman did) her Boss was left with no other choice.
Monday, June 23 Report this
JoeW
We will NOT renew our annual subscription to the NEWS LEADER FISH WRAP.
Monday, June 23 Report this
Conrad2k
Sad to hear this, but I can’t get rid of the New Leader subscription. Where would I get the paper I need for the bottom of the birdcage?
Monday, June 23 Report this
Mark Tomes
I'm hoping Mike or somebody can research who actually owns the newspaper and who hired Frantz. There is a strong push for conservative businesses to buy local papers and turn them into conservative propaganda pieces. It appears the News-Leader has fallen under this, as well.
Monday, June 23 Report this
Schenkelgreg
Its so disappointing to see the news of happenings on the Island manipulated in a manner to suit the Publisher. I worked in media for many years and this is not what I learned nor practiced professionally. I resent being told what is or isn’t news. A sad time for Amelia Island . . .
Monday, June 23 Report this
PaulaM
WOW….just WOW…no words to adequately describe this other than boycott the News-Leader …they are no longer the FREE press of days gone by..they need to fold like the paper they’re printed on. Sad.
Tuesday, June 24 Report this
lindareads
This is really sad that the “freedom of press” isn’t allow in Fernandina Beach…
Tuesday, June 24 Report this
LarryG
In normal times this would be shocking. But these are not normal times. Keep up the fight for a free press.
Tuesday, June 24 Report this
charlesebrown
It is time to fire Mike Lednovich also. His past history of actions in support of BLM, a racist terroristic group is grounds that he not be reporting anything where others can be influenced by his words. Having a Conservative Publisher is and will be good for the area. When you force liberal causes down the throat of others it never helps anyone.
Tuesday, June 24 Report this
jbmaris135
Let's see if we can move a little further to the right. This is beyond comprehension. Why would a gay rights parade offend anyone? We have gays in the community, maybe your cousin or even one of your kids. You have probably worked with someone whom you didn't know was gay. Not writing about it will not make it go away. I just renewed my subscription to the News Leader, but I am questioning that decision. If it is not going to inform us about what is going on in the community, what is the point of supporting them? Roberts should be reinstated just because the decision not to publish the article was wrong in the first place.
Tuesday, June 24 Report this