139-Year-Old Newspaper Shuts Down After Losing $1.1M Defamation Lawsuit

The Everett Leader Herald ceases publication after admitting to fabricating stories about Mayor Carlo DeMaria in a damaging smear campaign.

The Everett Leader Herald, a Massachusetts newspaper founded in 1885, is closing after a $1.1 million defamation settlement with Everett Mayor Carlo DeMaria.
DeMaria accused the paper of publishing knowingly false stories, including allegations of bribery and extortion, to damage his reputation and serve the paper's financial interests.
The paper's editor, Joshua Resnek, admitted in court to fabricating stories and targeting the mayor, referring to him as 'Kickback Carlo' in a smear campaign.
The lawsuit highlighted 'actual malice,' a legal standard for defamation, with experts calling it a textbook case of deliberate misinformation.
The closure of the paper leaves Everett with only two local news outlets, raising concerns about reduced accountability and potential bias in local reporting.