This archive report was first published on 7 June 2020.
On June 6, 2020, the Philadelphia Inquirer's top editor, Stan Wischnowski, resigned amidst growing discontent over the newspaper's handling of diversity and inclusion issues.
According to a letter signed by employees, Wischnowski's departure was a result of the institution's failure to address long-standing concerns about diversity, equity, and inclusion.
The letter, which was published on June 6, 2020, expressed frustration with the company's progress on diversity and inclusion, stating, 'We're tired of shouldering the burden of dragging this 200-year-old institution kicking and screaming into a more equitable age.'
Wischnowski's resignation comes on the heels of a controversy surrounding a headline that read 'Buildings Matter' instead of 'Black Lives Matter', which sparked widespread criticism and calls for change.
David Boardman, chairman of the Lenfest Institute board and dean of Temple University's Klein College of Media and Communication, praised Wischnowski's accomplishments but acknowledged the need for a fresh approach to address the newspaper's diversity issues.
Meanwhile, The New York Times faced similar criticism earlier in the week when over 800 employees signed a letter protesting the publication of an Op-Ed article by Senator Tom Cotton, which called for a military response to unrest in American cities.
