I am dismayed and disgusted at your firing Cecil Bothwell, and just after he had been chosen as best print journalist in the area.
His investigative reporting has always been rock solid in its research. He has been one journalist that had not been coopted by crass commercialism, and surely you knew that.
He is respected not only as a journalist and writer, but also as a local celebrity, by which association Mountain Xpress has necessarily benefited. Your move to suddenly fire him brings you into competition with the likes of the Gannett approach to business.
Whatever your motivation, I fear it is a shortsighted move. Some of us formerly loyal readers will be passing by the Xpress news boxes without bothering to pick [up] a copy in the future.
— Karen L. VanEman
Asheville
