Axios reporter Ben Montgomery was fired this week after he responded to an email from the Florida Department of Education press office, calling a news release “propaganda.”[0]
The press release in question was an “in case you missed it” on Gov. Ron DeSantis hosting a roundtable “exposing the diversity equity and inclusion scam in higher education.”[1] Montgomery sent his response three minutes after receiving the email.[2]
Montgomery, a Pulitzer Prize finalist, received a call from Axios Local Executive Editor Jamie Stockwell on Monday evening.[3] Stockwell asked Montgomery to confirm he sent the email before saying the reporter’s “reputation in the Tampa Bay area” had been “irreparably tarnished.”[1]
Montgomery poked fun at the situation on Wednesday by retweeting Vanity Fair Staff Writer Charlotte Klein, who shared the news of his firing.[1] Axios editor-in-chief Sara Kehaulani confirmed to Fox News that he is “no longer with Axios,” but declined to comment further.[3]
The roundtable discussed several controversial topics and their impact on the state’s higher education, including “Critical Race Theory” (CRT) and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives (DEI).[4] Montgomery’s email reply was seen as a criticism of the governor’s press office and the message they were trying to send.
0. “Axios fires Florida reporter over “propaganda” email” The Desk, 16 Mar. 2023, https://thedesk.net/2023/03/axios-fires-ben-montgomery-propaganda-florida-email/
1. “Axios Tampa Bay fires reporter Ben Montgomery over response to DeSantis DEI email” Creative Loafing Tampa, 15 Mar. 2023, https://www.cltampa.com/news/axios-tampa-bay-fires-reporter-ben-montgomery-over-response-to-desantis-dei-email-15291534
2. “Axios fires Ben Montgomery after he called DeSantis release ‘propaganda'” The Washington Post, 16 Mar. 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/media/2023/03/15/axios-reporter-ben-montgomery-fired/
3. “Axios reporter fired after accusing DeSantis press shop of pushing ‘propaganda'” New York Post , 15 Mar. 2023, https://nypost.com/2023/03/15/journalist-ben-montgomery-fired-from-axios-after-email-to-desantis-office/
4. “Axios Fires Reporter After He Called Ron DeSantis Press Release ‘Propaganda'” OutKick , 15 Mar. 2023, https://www.outkick.com/axios-fires-reporter-after-he-called-ron-desantis-press-release-propaganda/
