Gannett buyouts claim the top political, opinion writers at the Arizona Republic

Arizona's battle against misinformation lost five of its leaders last week, when long-time reporters (left to right) Mary Jo Pitzl and Elvia Dias, along with columnists EJ Montini, Laurie Roberts, and Phil Boas (not pictured) accepted buyouts from Arizona Republic parent company Gannett.

Arizona Mirror
Multiple top reporters and columnists are leaving The Arizona Republic — and it’s unclear how many more will follow after Gannett issued buyout offers in newsrooms across the country.

Gannett Co. Inc, the country’s largest newspaper publisher and the owner of the Republic, announced earlier this year that it would be offering voluntary buyout packages to help offset declining sales. On Wednesday, the Arizona Agenda confirmed the first round of departures in the Grand Canyon State: long-time political reporter Mary Jo Pitzl; Elvia Díaz, the first Latina to serve as editor for the paper’s editorial page; and more than half of the opinions desk, including columnists Laurie Roberts, E.J. Montini and Phil Boas.

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