The editor of the Detroit Free Press, Peter Bhatia, has resigned in order for his staff to keep their jobs. Bhatia, a Pulitzer Prize-winning Indian-American journalist, made this decision because the company is looking to downsize due to financial difficulties. Bhatia hopes that by taking his salary out of the company’s budget, others will be able to keep their jobs. Peter Bhatia is the editor of the Detroit Free Press, which is owned by Gannett. Bhatia announced his departure at a staff meeting earlier this week.
“We’re in a difficult economic period,” Bhatia was quoted in his newspaper as saying. “The company is going through a layoff process, and I essentially decided to lay myself off in order to save other jobs.”
“I do have other opportunities that will most likely come to work out,” he added. “However, if taking my salary out of the budget saves some jobs on the staff, I believe that is the right thing for the Free Press.”
Bhatia’s ancestors are from Lucknow. He has worked for a number of news organisations, ten of which have won the prestigious Pulitzer Prize. Many prominent journalists praised him for his selfless resignation and tweeted their support.