Al Jazeera America executive Marcy McGinnis resigned Monday amid swirling turmoil at the network.
McGinnis, a former CBS veteran who joined in 2013, joined as a senior vice president of news gathering, but in recent months was labeled a senior vice president of outreach, a seeming demotion.
In an email obtained by TheWrap, McGinnis said she took company CEO Ehab Al Shihabi up on his offer to anyone who doesn’t agree with the network’s direction to leave.
“Ehab reminded us at the Senior Leadership meeting and again at the All Hands meeting that anyone who felt they could not support the decisions or direction set forth by him and the Al Jazeera Media Network would be welcome to leave,” she wrote. “I find myself at that crossroads now and so have decided to resign.”
Network president Kate O’Brian didn’t get into it on a conference call Monday, merely confirming McGinnis’ departure.
McGinnis’ resignation comes after the network was hit with an anti-semitism and gender bias lawsuit last week. Al Shihabi fired back Monday, calling the lawsuit absurd.
Read McGinnis’ full email below:
Today I am resigning my position at Al Jazeera America. Last week, Ehab reminded us at the Senior Leadership meeting and again at the All Hands meeting that anyone who felt they could not support the decisions or direction set forth by him and the Al Jazeera Media Network would be welcome to leave. I find myself at that crossroads now and so have decided to resign.
To my colleagues who work so hard every day in the pursuit of good, pure, honest journalism, I wish you success. It was a pleasure and honor to work with you and especially to lead the top notch news gathering team. Thank you for your support and for your friendship.
Sincerely,
Marcy