Editor and Publisher reports this month that the ranks of ombudsmen are shrinking at newspapers across the country.
Since early 2008, a string of major news papers have seen their ombudsmen leave, either through layoffs, buyouts, or simple retirement. In many cases, cash-strapped editors have chosen to let those positions remain empty — or be eliminated. Among those that have lost their ombuds since January: The Sacramento Bee, the Star Tribune in Minneapolis, The Sun of Baltimore, the Fort Worth (Texas) Star-Telegram, the Orlando Sentinel, The Hartford (Conn.) Courant, and The Palm Beach (Fla.) Post.
Sad news.
I'm amazed that so many public editors have been shown the door just in the last 8 months. It's truly astounding and unfortunate that this position has been downsized so significantly all over the country. I spoke with numerous ombudsmen about the issue for a story last year:
www.gelfmagazine.com/archives/to_ombud_or_not_to_ombud.php