Metcalfe Coverage Led To Firing: Ex-Pittsburgh City Paper Editor

PITTSBURGH, PA - The Pittsburgh City Paper has dismissed its editor-in-chief, who claims the firing was prompted by the alternative newspaper’s coverage of controversial state Rep. Daryl Metcalfe of Cranberry.

Charlie Deitch, the ousted editor, alleged via Twitter that he was ousted after ignoring an edict to stop covering Metcalfe, who has garnered national headlines over the years for his outspokenness on issues such as gun control, homosexuality and white nationalism.

“I was told I ‘had to go,’” Deitch tweeted. “This comes exactly one week after my acting general manager told me that I was to no longer write about (Metcalfe) because he is a client of the (City Paper) parent company.”

In a subsequent tweet, he stated: “I refused to do so I told them that as an ethical journalist I could not stop writing about an elected (official) or anyone else in a newsworthy situation just because they are a client. Was then told to retract a recent story and I refused. Requested a meeting, heard nothing, fired.”

Vernon Wise, president of City Paper parent company Eagle Media, did not give a reason for the dismissal in a statement announcing the move.

“Today we had to make the very difficult decision to part ways with our editor, Charlie Deitch,” Wise said. Charlie has served Pittsburgh City Paper and the people of Pittsburgh incredibly well in his tenure here and oversaw many positive changes at City Paper, including our newest redesign.”

It could not be determined what, if any, business relationship exists between Metcalfe and Eagle Media. A Patch call to Wise was not immediately returned Wednesday.

The Republican Metcalfe, 55, has represented the 12th Legislative District since 1999. He was unopposed for renomination in Tuesday’s primary and will face Democrat Daniel Smith in the November general election.

Metcalfe drew national headlines in December for publicly chastising Democratic Rep. Matt Bradford of Montgomery County for briefly touching his arm while speaking to him during a committee meeting. "I'm a heterosexual...I don't like men as you might so stop touching me all the time," Metcalfe said at the time.

Metcalfe was criticized last month for calling members of the House State Government Committee that he chairs “liberal loser Democrat legislators.”

The insult came after one of those lawmakers, state Rep. Chris Rabb of Philadelphia, wrote to the House assistant chief clerk accusing Metcalfe of threatening him after a recent committee meeting. Metcalfe denied the allegation.

Metcalfe’s tirade against his fellow lawmakers prompted much of the basis for a May 2 City Paper editorial, “Pennsylvania Rep. Daryl Metcalfe has proven himself unfit for office.”

Deitch was replaced as City Paper editor by Rob Rossi, a former Pittsburgh Penguins beat writer and sports columnist for the defunct Pittsburgh Tribune-Review newspaper. Rossi has been working as a freelance columnist for the Triblive website since his February departure from 535 Media, an affiliate of Trib parent company Trib Total Media.

Metcalfe photo via Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

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