Editor who oversaw biz coverage at Las Vegas paper is out

Jim Wright, the deputy editor for local and business news at the Las Vegas Review-Journal, was let go on Friday, reports Peter Sterne of Politico.

Sterne writes, “It was the latest sign of turmoil at Nevada’s largest daily newspaper, which has been controlled by billionaire casino magnate and Republican donor Sheldon Adelson since his family secretly purchased it in December. Adelson did not disclose his ownership of the paper until R-J journalists confirmed that his son-in-law had arranged the purchase.

“Wright spearheaded the R-J’s coverage of Adelson’s ownership of the paper and was a frequent critic of Adelson’s influence on the paper.

“Wright announced in April that he planned to leave the R-J to prepare for a fellowship at the University of Michigan in September. The plan was for him to remain at the paper to help with coverage of the June 14 Nevada primary election and then leave.

“Instead, Wright told POLITICO, R-J editor J. Keith Moyer called him on Friday night and told he should not return to the newsroom, though the paper would continue to pay him through June 15. Wright also said that when he asked Moyer why his departure date had unexpectedly been pushed up, Moyer said he didn’t want to talk about it.”