Schwartz Media boss Morry Schwartz announces he has quit

The media executive is stepping down a fortnight after he criticised a controversial letter signed by hundreds of journalists regarding the conflict in Israel.

Melbourne publisher Morry Schwartz. Picture: Aaron Francis

Schwartz Media proprietor Morry Schwartz is quitting his role as chairman just two weeks after he criticised a controversial letter signed by hundreds of journalists urging Israel be treated the same as terrorist group Hamas.

Despite his departure he told The Australian his decision to step down from chairman had no connection to his recent comments about the overseas conflict and the role journalists played in reporting fairly.

He said his exit has been six months in the making.

Schwartz Media, which was established in the 1980s, is the publisher of progressive titles including The Saturday Paper, The Monthly, Quarterly Essay and the 7am podcast, and in an announcement on Monday by Mr Schwartz on the publisher’s website it revealed he was stepping down to allow “the next phase of growth and excellence”.

“Today I have made the decision to step aside as chairman of Schwartz Media and step back from day-to-day operations,” he said.

“I am extremely proud of the company I have built and of the titles that make Schwartz Media the country’s leading independent news source.

“I have full confidence in the senior team at Schwartz Media, who will lead the company from here.

“I am stepping back to give space to the next phase of growth and excellence.”

A new chief executive will join the company in 2024 but the appointment has yet to be announced.

Mr Schwartz — whose Jewish parents survived the Holocaust — told The Australian last month by signing the letter (endorsed by the media union) some reporters “may have done so in good faith”, but he held other concerns.

“I do not, however, believe the letter represents a blueprint for impartial reporting,” he said. “It appears to call for balance but then calls for reporters to move well beyond balance in their coverage of the war.”

Schwartz Media owner Morry Schwartz.

Mr Schwartz said on Monday it was the right time to step aside but he would remain owner of Schwartz Media.

“I decided to step aside, we have a new CEO coming,” he told The Australian.

“They’ll see less of me as I’m not going to be chair anymore, I’ll have a social involvement with the people there.”

He declined to comment further about the Israel/Hamas conflict and said there was no fallout after he made comments about the conflict.

The new CEO will replace Rebecca Costello who joined the Guardian Australia in September as managing director.

Mr Schwartz will continue to run his two book publishing companies, Black Inc Books and La Trobe University Press.

The controversial letter signed by hundreds of journalists drew widespread concerns by management across multiple media outlets including at Nine Entertainment’s newspaper arm, where executives told staff at The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald anyone who signed the letter will no longer be involved in coverage of the conflict in Israel.

Many journalists at Schwartz Media signed the letter including The Saturday Paper’s Rick Morton, who wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “The letter is asking journalists to be actual journalists.”

The letter is asking journalists to be actual journalists https://t.co/jU36SxgBAK

— Rick Morton (@SquigglyRick) November 24, 2023

The letter was also signed by The Monthly’s contributing editor Rachel Withers.

The Saturday Paper’s editor-in-chief Erik Jensen thanked Mr Schwartz for his service.

“Morry has made an incredible impact on publishing in Australia,” he said.

“It is an honour for everyone at Schwartz Media to build on that legacy.”

The ABC’s news director Justin Stevens also sent staff an internal note last month reminding journalists taking part in the union campaign’s about the Israel/Hamas conflict could hinder their ability to be impartial and cause issues for the public broadcaster’s credibility.

Schwartz’s LinkedIn profile said Mr Schwartz has been a publisher since 1971 and in the 1980s he established Schwartz Media, proceeding to roll out a series of titles including launching The Saturday Paper in 2014.