The Houston Landing fired its founding editor-in-chief and a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist this week, leaving the nonprofit news startup’s staff “blindsided” and “baffled.”
Why it matters: The Landing launched last June with deep pockets and promises to make its readers feel “heard, seen and valued.”
- Before the publication even had a name, it had secured $20 million — one of the biggest investments in any single nonprofit local news startup, per Nieman Lab.
Catch up fast: On Monday, the Landing’s CEO, Peter Bhatia, announced that the publication had “parted ways” with editor-in-chief Mizanur Rahman.
- Pulitzer Prize–winning reporter Alex Stuckey also shared on X that she had been fired.
- She told Texas Monthly she had refused an offer of severance pay in exchange for a nondisparagement agreement.
The intrigue: Both Rahman and Stuckey said they did not understand why they were fired.
- “I was not given a clear reason for this decision other than our CEO saying we needed a more ‘digital first’ direction. This is confusing because we are digital only,” Rahman wrote.
- Stuckey said she was fired as part of what the CEO called a company reset. “When I asked why, I was given no conclusive answer,” she said.
State of play: Remaining Landing staff has sent a letter to the nonprofit’s board asking for answers.
- “Nothing in the Landing’s performance, to date, appears to justify terminating two senior, trusted and well-respected members of the newsroom,” they wrote.
The intrigue: Bhatia told Poynter that “this was my decision and mine alone.”
- “We needed to make changes to achieve our goal of being a truly digital enterprise-driven news operation serving Houston,” Bhatia said.
- It wasn’t driven by finances, he added. “We are in great shape heading into 2024 and are beginning a search for an editor-in-chief.”
Of note: Axios reached out to Bhatia and board member Anne Chao for comment but did not hear back.
What’s next: Managing editor John Tedesco is serving as the interim editor-in-chief, saying that leaving the publication would put those remaining “in a bind.”
- “As long as my presence is beneficial, I hope to stay until the new editor is hired to do what I can to help.”
What we’re watching: “I have no illusion that some people are going to leave over this, and I respect that,” Bhatia told Texas Monthly.
