Pittsburgh Current

File:Charlie Deitch Journalist.jpgThe paper was founded by Charlie Deitch, former editor-in-chief of Pittsburgh City Paper. He alleges his May 15, 2018 firing was a result of his criticism of politician Daryl Metcalfe. The article in question, "Pennsylvania Rep. Daryl Metcalfe has Proven Himself Unfit for Office" ran on May 2, 2018.{{cite web |url=https://www.cjr.org/united_states_project/pittsburgh-city-paper-metcalfe-deitch.php |title='I refused': Fired City Paper editor claims efforts to suppress coverage |last=Lyons |first=Kim |date=May 17, 2018 |work=Columbia Journalism Review |access-date=March 19, 2019 }} The City Paper staff, which included Deitch, brought harsh criticism against Metcalfe, 'his opinions and beliefs to be racist, xenophobic, close-minded and full of general numb-skullery'.{{cite web |url=https://www.pghcitypaper.com/pittsburgh/pennsylvania-rep-daryl-metcalfe-has-proven-himself-unfit-for-office/Content?oid=8072153 |title=Pennsylvania Rep. Daryl Metcalfe has Proven Himself Unfit for Office |author= City Paper Staff |date=May 2, 2018 |work=Pittsburgh City Paper |access-date=March 19, 2019 |quote=We’ve found many of his opinions and beliefs to be racist, xenophobic, close-minded and full of general numb-skullery.}} Two days later, a published article would attack Metcalfe's pro-gun rally for attracting white supremacists.{{cite web |url=https://www.pghcitypaper.com/Blogh/archives/2018/05/07/state-rep-daryl-metcalfes-pro-gun-rally-attracted-support-of-group-with-white-supremacist-origins |title=State Rep. Daryl Metcalfe's Pro-gun Rally Attracted Support of Group with White-Supremacist Origins |last=Deto |first=Ryan |date=May 7, 2018 |work=Pittsburgh City Paper |access-date=March 19, 2019}}

Upon seeing the article Vernon L. Wise III, the President of Eagle Media Corp. which owns Pittsburgh City Paper, contacted Deitch. He instructed Deitch to refocus the paper's reporting to Pittsburgh politics. Deitch pushed back saying though Metcalfe was not a Pittsburgh politician, his position in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives impacts the Pittsburgh area.{{cite web |url=https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2018/05/15/Pittsburgh-City-Paper-fires-editor-after-disagreement-on-coverage-of-legislator/stories/201805150088 |title=Pittsburgh City Paper Fires Editor After Disagreement on Coverage of State Legislator |last=Lord |first=Rich |date=May 15, 2018 |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |access-date=March 19, 2019 |quote=Charlie, Can you redirect your anti Metcalf [sic] efforts toward let’s say maybe Pittsburgh politics.}} Wise then fired Deitch on May 15, 2018. Deitch recalls the interaction and asserts Wise stated Metcalfe was a personal client, thus making Wise's action an act of censorship. Wise declined to comment to local press about the firing.{{cite web |url=https://splinternews.com/pittsburgh-city-paper-editor-says-he-was-fired-for-crit-1826055690 |title=Pittsburgh City Paper Editor Says He Was Fired for Criticizing a Local Conservative Politician |last=Uberti |first=David |date=May 5, 2018 |work=Splinter |access-date=March 19, 2019 }}

Deitch launched the Pittsburgh Current Kickstarter campaign on June 12, 2018. The Pittsburgh Current would copy the same format and take several staffers from Pittsburgh City Paper putting it in direct competition of his old employer. “I was mad at them for not for being the publication that I thought they should be.” Deitch stated. This was Deitch's way to combat censorship and the campaign successfully raised $21,161 from 334 backers.{{cite web |url=https://www.cjr.org/united_states_project/alt-alt-weeklies.php |title=After the death of alt-weeklies, alt-alt-weeklies |last=Braden |first=Allison |date=March 19, 2019 |work=Columbia Journalism Review |access-date=March 19, 2019 |quote=I was mad at them for not for being the publication that I thought they should be.}}{{cite web |url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/356060393/the-pittsburgh-current-alt-monthly-phase-one-fundi |title=The Pittsburgh Current Alt-Monthly: Phase One Funding |last=Deitch |first=Charlie |date=June 12, 2018 |access-date=March 19, 2019}}

The first issue of the Pittsburgh Current ran in July 2018.

Rob Rogers, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s former editorial cartoonist, was fired on June 14, 2018.{{cite web |url=https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2018/06/14/Post-Gazetteeditorial-cartoonist-Rob-Rogers/stories/201806140152

|title=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Fires editorial cartoonist Rob Rogers |last=Gannon |first=Joyce |date=June 14, 2018 |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |access-date=March 19, 2019}} Rogers had worked at the Post-Gazette since 1993, but John Robinson Block has shifted newspapers editorial stance in a more conservative direction. The Post-Gazette had killed 19 of Rogers cartoons from March to June 2018. Roger's cartoons often made fun of President Trump. He claims this was the reason for his termination.{{cite web |url=https://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2018/06/22/rob-rogers-finds-new-outlet/ |title=Former Post-Gazette Cartoonist Who Cited Politics In Firing Finds New Outlet |date=June 22, 2018 |work=KDKA |access-date=March 19, 2019}}{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/15/opinion/cartoonist-rob-rogers-trump-fired.html |title=I Was Fired for Making Fun of Trump |last=Rogers |first=Rob |date=June 15, 2018 |work=The New York Times |access-date=March 19, 2019 |quote=I was fired on Thursday. I blame Donald Trump. Well, sort of. }} The Pittsburgh Current picked up Rob Roger's comics for local syndication in response.{{cite web |url=https://www.post-gazette.com/business/pittsburgh-company-news/2018/06/22/Post-Gazette-Rob-Rogers-pittsburgh-current-editorial-cartoons/stories/201806220095 |title=New Pittsburgh alt-monthly to run former Post-Gazette Rob Rogers cartoons |author=PG Staff |date=June 22, 2018 |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |access-date=March 19, 2019}}{{cite web |url=https://www.wesa.fm/post/rob-rogers-cartoons-appear-new-pittsburgh-publication |title=Rob Rogers' Cartoons To Appear In New Pittsburgh Publication |date=June 22, 2018 |agency=Associated Press |access-date=March 19, 2019}}

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• {{Official website|pittsburghcurrent.com}}

Category:Alternative weekly newspapers published in the United States

Category:Newspapers published in Pittsburgh

Category:Newspapers established in 2018