The Village Voice named its fifth editor in chief in a little over a year yesterday after abruptly firing David Blum from the position on Friday afternoon.
Tony Ortega, 43, the editor of The Broward-Palm Beach New Times, an alternative weekly, will take over as editor in chief this week, said Maggie Shnayerson, a spokeswoman for The Village Voice.
“I’m just very excited about going to The Voice,” Mr. Ortega said in a telephone interview from Fort Lauderdale, Fla. “It’s a terrific paper, and I’m looking forward to making it even better.”
Mr. Blum was fired on Friday after a contentious staff meeting on Wednesday. Ms. Shnayerson said that the issue of diversity that was raised on Wednesday was not the only reason for his dismissal. Bill Jensen, the director of new media for Village Voice Media, was appointed interim editor in chief on Friday. Mr. Ortega said that he was offered the job on Sunday.
The newspaper has cycled through four editors since December 2005, when Don Forst resigned. He was replaced by Doug Simmons, who was fired in March 2006. Erik Wemple, the editor of Washington City Paper, was hired in June but resigned two weeks later. Mr. Blum was hired as editor in chief in September.
Mr. Blum, reached by telephone, declined to comment on his firing, but endorsed Mr. Ortega. “I have met Tony Ortega, and he’s a delightful guy, a very talented journalist and an excellent editor,” Mr. Blum said. “I think he’s a very smart choice for the job.”
Mr. Ortega is the recipient of several journalism awards, including the Virg Hill Award, a Los Angeles Press Club award, and the 2005 Association of Alternative Newsweeklies award for best column. He received bachelor’s and master’s degrees from California State University, Fullerton.
Mr. Ortega, who is from Los Angeles, said his biggest challenge will be getting to know New York again since he has not lived in the city in more than 20 years. “As far as running a newspaper, I know how to do that,” he said. “I’m just really looking forward to getting there and getting to know the people at the paper.”
In a statement announcing his appointment, The Voice invoked the alternative weekly’s glory days, noting that Mr. Ortega was once a regular at the underground rock club CBGB in New York. “Ortega no longer has a Mohawk and is looking forward to leading The Village Voice,” the statement said.
