Tampa Tribune
Richard “Duke” Maas has resigned as executive editor of the Tampa Tribune. In an email to employees, Maas said the paper needs a “fresh perspective,” the Tribune reports:
Maas said that he and publisher William Barker mutually agreed to the move “after much consideration and conversation” between them.
Maas was named executive editor of the paper, which competes with the Poynter-owned Tampa Bay Times, in May. His last day is Nov. 30.
Maas told Tribune reporter Richard Mullins his decision was influenced by what Mullins describes as a “personal faith journey,” as well as changes in the Tribune’s organizational structure.
Maas said several factors then came together for him. The strategic work of reorganizing the Tribune was largely done. The role of executive editor was less necessary when the Tribune was no longer owned by a larger corporation. And he had positioned several other editors to take over.
“This was not about someone putting a gun to my head and saying ‘do this or else,’ or forcing me out,” Maas said. “This is looking at my life, where I’m at and the opportunity for me to look for new challenges – and allow me to leave an organization at an opportune moment.”
The Tribune was sold to an investment firm called Revolution Capital Group in October. That same month, it announced “cost-alignment measures” that included pay cuts and voluntary severances.
