Former journalists at The Roanoke Rambler say they were fired after refusing new contracts that slashed their base pay and proposed other changes.
In a joint statement released Tuesday, editor Todd Jackson and reporters Jeff Sturgeon and Sinclair Holian confirmed they were terminated April 10. The move follows the March 30 sale of the investigative news outlet to Roanoke entrepreneur Ollie Howie.
“The former staff is deeply saddened to be unable to continue the mission of bringing high-quality investigative journalism to the community,” the group said in a statement sent from Sturgeon’s private email.
The staff members said they chose not to sign the new contracts offered shortly after the sale. Their departure leaves the publication without its core reporting team. Signs of a transition were visible last week when the Rambler released no new investigative stories and the weekly radio segment on WFIR did not air.
Founder expresses ‘betrayal’ over broken assurances
The staff’s statement aligns with a Monday release from Rambler founder Henri Gendreau, who said he feels “shocked and betrayed” by the recent events. Gendreau, who moved to New York earlier this year, said he was specifically assured during the sale process that the newsroom’s integrity and compensation would remain intact.
“Before the sale closed, I felt assured that staff would be retained, that they would be compensated at the same rates, and that the mission of local, investigative news would continue,” Gendreau said. “I shed blood, sweat and tears to try to leave The Roanoke Rambler in good hands; this is not at all what I anticipated”.
One of the terminated reporters, Sinclair Holian, held a position supported by a grant from Report for America, a national program aimed at sustaining local newsrooms. Jeff Sturgeon, a veteran local reporter, served as the most frequent guest on WFIR’s “On The Record” segment, focusing on local government and community issues.
Alleged shift to non-professional freelance model
Howie has not responded to multiple requests for comment regarding the terminations or the claims of pay cuts. However, an anonymous source tells WFIR that Howie allegedly sent a message to individuals outside the journalism trade proposing a shift toward a contributor-based model.
“We are going to do freelance open source articles that folks that are qualified like you can get compensated to publish as one new initiative,” the message allegedly stated. “We hope to continue to bring great journalism to the community”.
This alleged shift to a freelance-based model stands in contrast to Howie’s initial public comments on April 6. In a letter posted to the Rambler’s website, Howie said the acquisition was about “preserving a trusted community voice” and “strengthening local journalism.” He has not yet specified how editorial quality or oversight will be managed under the alleged freelance initiative.
Stakes high for scheduled radio appearance
Howie was previously scheduled last week to appear on WFIR’s “On The Record: With the Roanoke Rambler” this Wednesday, April 15, at 7:45 a.m. As of Tuesday morning, he has not yet confirmed his attendance for the broadcast.
If the interview proceeds, it would mark Howie’s first public comments since the staff terminations were announced. The 7:45 a.m. time slot remains held for Howie to address the community and clarify the future of the publication.
Howie, 30, is a managing partner of Mount Auburn Venture Partners and a member of Roanoke’s Economic Development Authority.
The post UPDATE: Former Roanoke Rambler staff cite pay cuts in mass termination; new owner silent first appeared on News/Talk 960-AM & FM-107.3 WFIR.
