Reader Editor Out After Paper Publishes Racist Cartoon on Cover
After just 10 days, the Reader has let go of its newest executive editor, Mark Konkol. Konkol was dismissed in the wake of massive criticism for publishing an extremely racist cover. “A tumultuous ten days culminated in the publication of a Reader cover that we believe was not in line with either our vision for the Reader or that storied history, wrote Sun-Times CEO Edwin Eisendrath in a statement published Saturday. "We wish Mark well." Former colleagues and others took to social media to also criticize Konkol, not only for the cover but for allegedly pushing for the use of the ‘N’ word in the title of the story, for seemingly abusive behavior in the workplace, and for demoting or letting go of several staff members. The Reader’s own Twitter account tweeted “Ding dong the witch is dead," but later deleted it.