Tom White Announces Resignation As Editor Of IDA’s Documentary Magazine, Citing “Toxic Context” At Nonprofit Org
deadline.comTom White is stepping down as editor of Documentary magazine, after more than 22 years at the helm of the IDA publication. It’s the latest staff departure at the International Documentary Association and follows the surprise resignation announcement earlier this month from IDA executive Rick Pérez, whose decision takes effect on Friday.
White’s resignation becomes effective January 4, 2023. In a message posted on Facebook (see full text below), he wrote, “My mental health–namely, my depression–instigated by the exodus of 18 of my colleagues since the beginning of this year, and the toxic context that spurred that exodus, has worsened over the past several months, and it would be best for me, and for the organization, to bow out at this point.” The exodus White referenced has seen the IDA lose its senior staff and most of its lower-level staffers beginning almost a year ago when four senior directors announced their resignations.
Those senior directors—Poh Si Teng, Maggie Bowman, Jina Chung and Amy Halpin—blasted the leadership of Pérez and the nonprofit’s board of directors, a criticism echoed by many who subsequently quit the organization.
The IDA has since replaced many of the staff who resigned. The board announced it has appointed Ken Ikeda to serve as interim executive director after Rick Pérez’s departure.
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