Orlando Sentinel Editor Ousted in Restructuring

The Root ^ | August 10, 2013 | Richard Prince

[Uncle Chip]

Mark Russell, whose nearly three years as editor of the Orlando Sentinel were marked by coverage of the Trayvon Martin case and the hazing death of a marching band member at Florida A&M University, was ousted Wednesday in a reorganization that eliminated his job.

Russell was replaced by Avido Khahaifa [pdf], a corporate manager who is also African American and for whom the editor's job will be an additional role.

Both men were at the National Association of Black Journalists convention last week in nearby Kissimmee, Fla...........

[Rockingham]

Poor circulation and financial results are the likely reasons for the change. For many years, the Sentinel has been at odds with its core readership, which is white, middle class, moderately conservative, hetero, and old. By diligent effort and perverse editorial policies, the Sentinel alienated this base by pushing gay rights and racially charged stories while toadying to its favored liberal politicians. Meanwhile, the area’s burgeoning Hispanic population has little attachment to the Sentinel in comparison to Spanish language news outlets, and the Black community is resistant to acquiring the habit of buying and reading the Sentinel no matter how much it tries to appeal to them.

[SeminoleCounty]

No sympathy from me...the Slantinel was vehemently Black Racist in their coverage of the Zimmerman case. Does not look like that will change with new editor Wiz Khalifa

Now that you can get coupons on line...there is zero need for the Slantinel now. Its getting expensive as bird cage and dog cage liner

[yldstrk]

How does Russell like affirmative action in action?

[GeronL]

I am sure the new guy will be so much more moderate

lolz

not really

[GeronL]

I hope its circulation crashed

[okie01]

The Orlando Sentinel led the charge for the indictment and conviction of George Zimmerman with one-sided racially biased reporting that served ultimately to poison the jury pool in Seminole County.

Yet, the Sentinel's initial reporting on the story was straightforward and balanced -- including the exculpatory eyewitness evidence and full detail on Zimmmerman's wounds.

In my opinion, the Sentinel's initial reporting was one of the reasons why Trayvon's death did not become a local cause celebre until the national media and the Justice Brothers got on the case three weeks later.

[Uncle Chip]

Yet, the Sentinel's initial reporting on the story was straightforward and balanced

That makes it even worse --

The OS had the facts right and then abandoned them in favor of the propaganda narrative.

Other papers and news outlets throughout the country relied upon the OS for their reporting, but instead of delivering news they delivered the narrative.

That's why so many people across the country were surprised by the facts that came out in the trial and the verdict.

The OS misled everybody. They were so invested in a trial in their own backyard that they did all they could to make it happen.