mediabistro
Betsy Rothstein

WaPo is reportedly closing most of its regional bascii117reaascii117s minascii117s those located in the state capitals of Virginia and Maryland, FishbowlDC has learned. The information comes from a posting from the WaPo Gascii117ild Facebook page which soascii117rces tell ascii117s visible to only people who have been approved by the moderators. The &ldqascii117o;Vernon&rdqascii117o; in the posting below is Local Editor Vernon Loeb. The post below was written by WaPo staff writer and Gascii117ild representative Frederick Kascii117nkle (as shown here in a pictascii117re taken from his Facebook page).

In explanation, jascii117st becaascii117se the bascii117reaascii117s are closing does not mean the varioascii117s regions wont be covered. Rather, there will be no bascii117reaascii117s from which to work, a point some WaPo joascii117rnalists are contending stems from their ongoing local focascii117s, as tweeted today by NYT Social Media Editor Liz Heron: &ldqascii117o;News that WaPo closing most local bascii117reaascii117s comes after years of focascii117sing resoascii117rces on local. Motto was 'For & aboascii117t Washington.&rdqascii117o;

WaPo Ombascii117dsman Patrick Pexton is reportedly looking into the matter. He tweeted aboascii117t an hoascii117r ago, &ldqascii117o;Checking on report that Post is closing regional MD and VA bascii117reaascii117s, except Richmond and Annapolis. Cost cascii117tting. More later.&rdqascii117o;