Dan McCarthy Laid off as Editor-In-Chief at DigBoston

DigBoston Editor-in-chief Dan McCarthy photo by Scott Murry via Dan McCarthy

Boston’s lone alt weekly publication is laying off its editor-in-chief in what’s being described by the paper’s management as a cost cutting move.

Dan McCarthy, the only full-time editorial staffer at the DigBoston, is leaving the paper on September 29 after the release of next week’s issue.

With McCarthy leaving, publisher Jeff Lawrence is slated to take over editorial leadership of the alt weekly in a dual role, something he is familiar with.

“I’ve had the pleasure of taking the editorial reins several times over the last 15 years, and following in McCarthy’s footsteps will no doubt be one of the most difficult to follow yet. Once we have a new plan in place however, I will be looking for someone to assume the editorial leadership again,” said Lawrence in a statement.

The restructuring at DigBoston includes the elimination of two additional positions, one in production and another in sales. Chris Faraone, the paper’s current news and features editor, is expected to stay on at DigBoston and help craft the paper’s new direction without McCarthy.

DigBoston has been assembled remotely since the paper vacated its offices earlier this year. The paper shared office and studio space with the Boston-based online radio station Unregular Radio until 2013 when the station stopped broadcasting.

In an interview with Boston, McCarthy said he has no regrets about his time at the helm of DigBoston.

“We brought features back, added fiction, overhauled the city and lifestyle stuff and improved the website. I no regrets with what I did but now I have to find a job,” said McCarthy.

McCarthy joined the paper two years ago after spending five years running the Boston version of UrbanDaddy.com, an aspiration lifestyle blog with voice.

Founded in 1999, DigBoston became the city’s only alt weekly when The Boston Phoenix ceased publication in 2013.