There was much excitement and praise for Marti Buscaglia, when it was announced that the publisher of the Duluth (Minn.) News Tribune had landed the same job at the Orange County Register in early June. A Latina would become the top decision-maker at a big California daily. But today, it all had to be taken back. She apparently didn’t tell the whole truth about her educational background and had to quit the new job before she even started.
Although she apologizes and takes full responsibility for what happened in an article published today, it’s amazing that a woman with 30 years in the business had never been previously questioned about her credentials. The saddest thing about it is that she had built a respected career and now who knows where she’ll go next.
What’s most disappointing is a missed opportunity for diversity to reach the top management levels of a major newspaper.