SacBee eliminates public editor job, Acuña reassigned

Armando Acuña, public editor of the Sacramento Bee since 2005, becomes associate features editor, after the paper’s management eliminates the position. His last column will be August 31 and he steps into the new role effective September 1.

In a memo published on Romenesko, publisher Cheryl Dell told staff the move was part of the paper’s “ongoing restructuring” and while “the public editor role has been a valuable part of The Bee’s operation for several decades” the company needs to focus resources “on newsgathering, advertising sales and customer service.”

Armando’s first job as a reporter was with the San Jose Mercury News in 1973 . He worked there for 12 years, then at the L.A Times for 15 years and as an assistant secretary for the State and Consumer Services Agency under former Gov. Gray Davis before joining The Bee in 2000 as deputy sports editor.