Wash Times Announces Resignation Of Executive Editor John Solomon

It's official: The Washington Times has announced the resignation of Executive Editor John Solomon -- effective six days ago.

Here's the one-line statement that Don Meyer, a spokesman for the Washington Times and a partner at Rubin Meyer Communications, emailed TPM moments ago.

Effective November 6, 2009, John Solomon has resigned his position as the Executive Editor of The Washington Times.

Solomon had a three-year contract that began in January 2007. Earlier this week, a Times staffer suggested to TPM that, "when you're in positions like that, you know where the bodies are buried. They would give him a buyout to keep quiet."

When the PR firm issued the release announcing Solomon's resignation, TPM phoned top newsroom staffers -- who weren't aware of the resignation.

Two newsroom sources learned about the news from TPM, saying that no one there had heard Solomon was resigning.

"No kidding?! That explains a lot," one staffer responded.

There had even been some indications that Solomon planned to return Monday after being gone from the newsroom all week, sources said.

Newly-minted publisher Jonathan Slevin did not immediately respond to a message left at his office seeking comment. Earlier today, a receptionist said he'd be out of the office for a couple days.

Solomon also couldn't immediately be reached for comment. When TPM called, Solomon's cell phone voicemail greeting still identified him as the Times' executive editor.

Meyer also did not immediately return phone calls seeking comment.

It's been a wild week at the Times On Sunday, three newspaper executives were fired.

Since then, Solomon has been MIA and security on management's floor was beefed up.

The paper is owned by Rev. Sun Myung Moon's Unification Church, and a feud between Moon's sons has driven the turmoil at the paper.

Staffers are worried about their jobs and the very survival of the paper is in question.

Several newsroom sources over the last few days suggested they would be less worried about the paper's financial future if Solomon returned. They said that even for his flaws and reputation for aggression, they felt he had turned the ship in the right direction.

This morning, staffers were told to stop talking to the press.

There was also a mini-controversy on Sunday, when the Times ran a clarification on a year-old review of a book co-authored by Slevin -- saying that Slevin had picked the reviewer in violation of newspaper policy. The next day, Slevin was promoted. Solomon hasn't been seen at the newspaper since.

Late Update: TPM obtained the Times' internal email announcing Solomon's resignation. It was sent by human relations VP Sonya Jenkins under the subject line "Announcement."

Dear Colleagues,

At the request of Jonathan Slevin, Acting President and Publisher, I am forwarding the below announcement.

"Effective November 6, 2009, John Solomon has resigned his position as the Executive Editor of The Washington Times."

Late Late Update: TPM obtained another email -- this one sent to Times staffers from Managing Editor David Jones.

For those who were not in the newsroom for our impromptu meeting a few minutes ago, let me just say that we have been assured by Jonathan Slevin that despite the resignation of John Solomon, the company remains as committed as ever to keeping The Washington Times going as a robust multi-media company. He noted the huge strides we have all made over the past two years and asked Jeff Birnbaum and me to carry on "business as usual" while the new management carries out its review of all our operations. Slevin also expressed his respect and appreciation to the newsroom for your efforts of the past week, in which you all have continued to put out a first-rate product in a very difficult time.

Additional reporting by Justin Elliott.