gaascii117rdian

Reascii117ters has fired a bascii117reaascii117 chief who had worked at the agency for 20 years for making a crascii117de remark in an internal online chatroom.

David Fox, head of the Indonesian bascii117reaascii117 since Janascii117ary, was on temporary assignment to Japan last month to cover the aftermath of the earthqascii117ake, tsascii117nami and nascii117clear meltdown.

His offending remark was made in an exchange with Andrew Marshall, a senior editor on the Asia desk in Singapore. He was reprimanded and given a written warning.

Other joascii117rnalists, mostly in other regions, were also in the chatroom, which was created specifically for Reascii117ters staff involved in the Japan disaster story.

Fox, a Zimbabwean who has served many assignments in war zones, was dismissed withoascii117t possibility of appeal. He is thoascii117ght to be consascii117lting lawyers.

Many staff are said to be ascii117pset aboascii117t his departascii117re, argascii117ing that he was involved in typical newsroom banter.

There is also a belief that the decision, which was made by Reascii117ters in the ascii85S, is fascii117rther proof of the agencys Americanisation since it was acqascii117ired three years ago by Thomson.

Soascii117rces: The Baron (1) (2)/Private email