Asheville Citizen-Times editor Fernandez announces departure; will take editorship at Va.’s Bristol Herald Courier

12 Comments

1. 

   WNCRod November 23, 2010

   Bristol is a step up? Who knows. It's definitely a smaller paper. I'm not sorry to see him go. Never quite clicked with him.

   Seems like his influence has already being felt there. I logged onto their Web site, and the top story? … Weather.

   CYA Phil.

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2. 

   Greg November 18, 2010

   When I worked there Phil didn't have a spot in the side lot, Bob & then Susan did, but Phil was always a pleasure for me to work with, one of the nicer guys there and one of the few managers that could make a tough and realistic decision, no matter how unpopular. Bristol is definitely a step up. ACT probably forced out or ran off the majority of the talent they once had.

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3. 

   Quintin November 17, 2010

   Goodness, I don't recognize any names here except for Lena – did any of you who are slamming Phil actually work for him? I did, and while Phil and I had differences, he was always fair, level headed and caring, even when we didn't agree. I consider him one of the truly nice guys in the business. And I wish him the best of luck. And I never say anything nice about anyone … Quintin (Gannettatoid, Asheville Citizen-Times, 1996-2007)

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4. 

   Rich November 16, 2010

   I should clarify my last comment: It's the department heads that get the nice building-side parking spots. The grunts and mid-level managers all have to park off-site.

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5. 

   Rich November 16, 2010

   @Greg: What are you talking about? Phil and the rest of management get nice parking spots right next to the building. It's the working stiffs that have to park at the Carter Street lot and hoof it to the building.

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6. 

   Greg November 15, 2010

   Nice going, Phil. Media General will treat you better than Gannett ever did. I know they have for me. No more furloughs, pay reductions, or layoffs. Welcome to a company that can get by with a 20% profit margin without cutting staff to appease board members. Plus Bristol has about twice the readership of the ACT and you can actually park there.

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7. 

   S November 15, 2010

   He was a do nothing for sure. Not even mediocre.

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8. 

   Rich November 15, 2010

   Hopefully the AC-T will replace Fernandez with someone the newsroom staff can respect. I think most of the staff there think he is clueless. He also likes weather stories a little too much. He'd fit in well at WLOS. Haha!

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9. 

   Lena November 15, 2010

   Wow! Congrats, Phil! Best of luck 🙂

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10. 

    Scott Darnell November 14, 2010

    Mr. Fernandez was one of the rudest people I've ever encountered when I was attempting to find out about possible news coverage for our organization and its upcoming events and meetings. He was hard to reach, didn't return phone calls and was very arrogant in my dealings with him. Others in our group had similar experiences. The reporter they sent sincerely apologized for his editor's behavior and told me that everybody there really disliked him. I'm glad he has left and not surprised given our experience with him.

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11. 

    Ed November 14, 2010

    Phil Hernandez did absolutely nothing so he won't be missed one bit. He was despised by most of the staff and never did anything for the city or region. The newspaper has only gone downhill since he worked there. I'm not at all surprised or sorry to hear that he is toast.

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12. 

    Rich November 14, 2010

    Thank God!

    Phil Fernandez was a total disaster at the Citizen-Times and has been universally loathed by the staff since his arrival.

    I would never call him a journalist,let alone an editor or manager — just a weak corporate toad. He clearly failed since he is not being moved to another Gannett newspaper. No surprise.

    He did nothing for the paper in Asheville other than help accelerate its rapid decline.

    Good riddance.

    Reply