Gannett fires top Free Press editor following Twitter controversy

Denis Finley, editor of the Burlington Free Press, left the company Monday evening.

Finley became embroiled in a community controversy last week based on a series of tweets about a Vermont proposal to add a third gender option to driver licenses. Upon review, it was determined that Finley had violated the company’s social media guidelines on a number of occasions.

Gannett leaders fired Finley on Monday evening after meeting with him.

Randy Lovely, vice president for community news for the USA TODAY NETWORK, said the company's journalists strive for accurate and unbiased reporting, and Finley's tweets failed to adhere to the company's code of conduct and ethics policy.

“We encourage our journalists to engage in a meaningful dialogue on social media, but it’s important that the conversation adhere to our overarching values of fairness, balance and objectivity,” Lovely said.

Burlington President Jim Fogler said Finley's tweets do not represent the Free Press or the USA TODAY NETWORK: "Those opinions are his personal views and are not those of the staff or leadership of the Burlington Free Press."

Finley joined the newsroom in September 2016 and has been credited with encouraging watchdog journalism and driving digital growth. He previously served as editor of the Virginian-Pilot.

Burlington Planning Editor Emilie Stigliani has been named interim editor while the search for a replacement editor begins.

“We are committed to finding a top-notch journalist who will lead the Free Press going forward,” Lovely said. “Burlington is a vibrant, engaged community and we have a newsroom that is connected to the community at all levels.”