• by Ray Schultz , September 22, 2021

The drama at the former Tribune Publishing properties is continuing apace. In the latest installment, Robert York reportedly is stepping down as editor in chief of the New York Daily News. 

York will be replaced on a temporary, “as-needed” basis by Andrew Julien, the editor and publisher of The Hartford Courant, reports state. 

Presumably, Julien will handle his new chores virtually. The company claims to be seeking a replacement for York. 

The rival tabloid,the New York Post, writes that York was “ousted in an unexpected shakeup on Monday, with insiders blaming ruthless cost-cutting by the paper.”

The new arrangement makes it clear that owner Alden Global Capital, which acquired Tribune Publishing for $635 million earlier this year, “isn’t looking for a powerful editor or publisher to run the paper,” the NYP continues.

This seems to be consistent with staff changes at the multiple other titlesm included in the Tribune Publishing sale, including the Chicago Tribune.  

Last month, Colin McMahon left his post as editor-in-chief of the Tribune and was to be replaced by Mitch Pugh, formerly executive editor of The Post and Courier in South Carolina. And dozens of other staffers have reportedly been offered buyouts. 

However, there has been one part-time hire: Richard Johnson is returning to the Daily News as gossip columnist and will write one column per week. 

York was editor and publisher of The Morning Call, of Allentown, Pennsylvania, prior to joining the Daily News, The New York Times reports. 

In other apparent cost-cutting moves, Alden closed Richmond Virginia’s Style Weekly and the Bowie Blade-News.

Alden acquired the Daily News, the Courant, the Baltimore Sun and dozens of other titles as part of the Tribune Publishing purchase.