DV’s managing director, assistant editor, and at least 4 other employees have resigned in light of recent events which saw chief editor Reynir Traustason ousted from his position, reports RÚV.
As reported, ‘World Class’ gym chain owner, Björn Leifsson, filed a libel suit against tabloid DV – known for its critical investigative journalism – earlier this year.
At the end of August, Björn announced that he had bought a minor share in the paper, with the declared intention of getting rid of its editor, Reynir Traustason (pictured).
Björn then sold the shares to owners who proceeded to form a new board. Subsequently Reynir was suspended from his duties, locked out of the building and a new chief editor hired.
Furthermore, a member of the new board’s takeover legal team, Sigurður G. Guðjónsson, implied that money had been mishandled under Reynir’s management. These remain unsubstantiated, and are formulated just well enough to avoid a libel case if they prove unfounded.
“The [way they handled this], the assumptions made and what has been implied goes against everything that I believe in,” said Jón Trausti who has been DV’s Managing Director for two years and was the chief editor for 5 years prior to that. “I don’t trust myself to work for this newspaper anymore.”
The actions of the new board have cost the tabloid not only several key employees but also many subscribers. Prominent bloggers and journalists have also criticised the board’s actions and have come out in support of ousted editor Reynir.
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