Walk on by

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

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Thanks for reading through to the end…

We share your inclination to get the whole story. For the past 25 years, Xpress has been committed to in-depth, balanced reporting about the greater Asheville area. We want everyone to have access to our stories. That’s a big part of why we've never charged for the paper or put up a paywall.

We’re pretty sure that you know journalism faces big challenges these days. Advertising no longer pays the whole cost. Media outlets around the country are asking their readers to chip in. Xpress needs help, too. We hope you’ll consider signing up to be a member of Xpress. For as little as $5 a month — the cost of a craft beer or kombucha — you can help keep local journalism strong. It only takes a moment.

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