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A newspaper in Oregon had to terminate all of its employees just three days before Christmas due to one staff member being accused of embezzling a large sum of money.
Camilla Mortenson, The Eugene Weekly’s editor-in-chief, revealed in a letter to readers that the publication had to abruptly stop printing due to its current financial troubles. Ms Mortenson told The New York Times that the employee accused of running the embezzling scheme took money from accounts set up to pay employees’ retirement and left bills of up to $70,000 to the newspaper’s printer.
“We regret to inform you that this unbiased source of information is at risk of ceasing publication,” stated the letter. “For the first time in over two decades, there will not be a physical edition of EW.”
A representative from the Eugene Police Department stated to The Independent that a theft report was filed for an incident at 1251 Lincoln, the location of the paper, on 19 December.
The spokesperson stated via email that further information cannot be released at this time as the case is currently being investigated.
The publication of Eugene Weekly began in 1982 and it typically produces 30,000 copies per week.
Ms. Mortenson informed the Times that the individual who is being accused of embezzling the funds, and whose identity has not been disclosed to the public, has been employed at the company for the past five years.
The head editor stated that the higher-ups became aware of the paper’s financial difficulties while they were finalizing the records for the year. The management team was unable to address the employee who was accused because he was not in the office.
Ms. Mortensen expressed her distress to the Times, stating that every time she uncovers new information, it makes her physically ill. She also mentioned that this individual was a daily presence in their workplace.
Ms. Mortensen stated that the publication was still recovering from the financial setbacks it faced due to the pandemic. She mentioned that the owners of the paper have consistently reinvested their profits into the business, often using them to provide employee benefits and bonuses.
Although printing has ceased, Ms Mortensen and the rest of the editorial staff have offered to publish articles on the internet.
Anita Johnson and Georgia Taylor, previous employees of the Washington Post, funded the final print edition of The Eugene Weekly on December 21.
The Eugene Weekly is currently accepting donations, with the goal of resuming printing in the future according to Ms. Mortensen.
Source: independent.co.uk
