Governing Editor Alan Greenblatt Resigns, Citing Pressure to Avoid Stories That Could Draw Trump White House

Overview

• Greenblatt announced his resignation on Oct. 22 after two decades at the state-and-local-focused magazine, saying internal pressure made honest coverage untenable.
• He recounts that a vaccines article drew complaints from higher-ups and that his First Amendment piece was discouraged as violating a stated policy against drawing White House attention.
• e.Republic, Governing’s parent company, issued a statement emphasizing a nonpartisan mission and said its only editorial guidance is to stay within the outlet’s focus.
• Greenblatt writes that corporate caution intensified after President Trump’s second term began, arguing that high-profile legal fights and funding moves against major outlets have a chilling effect on smaller publications.
• The assertion that a chief content officer instructed staff to avoid articles that might attract the White House is Greenblatt’s allegation and has not been independently verified in the coverage.