Longtime New York Times columnist Bob Herbert announced Friday that he was leaving The Times to contribute to a vague new progressive media endeavor.
Herbert began writing for The Times in 1993. Jeremy Peters wrote in the Media Decoder section of The Times that Herbert “was known for his combative style, blunt language and progressive politics.”
“I am leaving The New York Times and the rewards and rigors of daily journalism with the intent of writing more expansively and more aggressively about the injustices visited on working people, the poor and the many others in our society who find themselves on the wrong side of power,” Herbert wrote.
Herbert continued, “sometimes a mission presents itself, and I could not look in the mirror if I did not respond.” He did not share his plans with The Times.
Jim Romenesko reported on Poynter that Herbert’s resignation letter stated, “I am writing a book called ‘Wounded Colossus’ about some of the great challenges facing the United States and will be part of a new, soon-to-be-announced effort to help bolster progressive journalism in the cause of a more generous and just America.”