Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Board?

The Texas Observer, scapegoats & heartless corporate overlords

I became a member of the non-profit board overseeing the venerable Texas Observer in late January of this year. (Sure, I thought the initiation ceremony was a little strange but perhaps I’m just not used to wearing white gowns in the Texas State Cemetery at midnight.) I was flattered and excited, not only as a reader but also as a former contributor.

However, shortly after joining, it became obvious that there were major budgetary issues, legal repurcussions, and internal strife that forced our hand to consider drastic measures, including layoffs and a publication hiatus. Select board members, especially the board president, became vilified, while others, inexplicably, were not.

I’ll let my fellow (ex)-board member Cari Marshall, Texas political activist and all-around badass, take it from here.—EDS

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On March 31st, I stepped down from the Board of the Texas Democracy Foundation, which oversees the operation of the Texas Observer. My two-year tenure was a non-stop roller coaster ride, at times fun and thrilling, but often marred by the confusion and chaos that seems inherent in the organization.

As board president, Laura Hernandez Holmes did absolutely heroic work in attempting to right and professionalize the organization, but was ultimately both the sacrificial lamb and institutional scapegoat for fiscal and organizational decisions past and present that were not only not her fault, but which she actively attempted to prevent and course correct. 

I am appalled at how Laura was blamed for a situation that was the result of generational, patriarchal maneuvering that drove the organization to the brink of bankruptcy. 

A runaway narrative propelled by untruths, mischaracterizations and back-stabbing leaks led to irresponsible, gotcha journalism. Bad actors, most of whom have now departed the organization in a dramatic flourish, were more than willing to throw Laura under the bus in the interest of self-preservation rather than acknowledging the role they played in the Observer’s financial cratering.

Laura attempted to deal with this mess with clear-eyed professionalism and a determination to be a part of a long-term solution—NOT a shutdown.

There are many truly outstanding Texas Observer journalists and staffers doing the hard work to deliver timely, thorough, crucial news to Texans at a deeply perilous time in our state. I am so sorry that they were caught up in the maelstrom of this wretched situation. They deserve better and I hope brighter days are ahead for them and their invaluable work.

Also in the maelstrom were four highly successful women with expertise in media, technology and business whom Laura recruited to join the board in January of this year. They immediately rolled up their sleeves and began working with staff in strategic and thoughtful ways—pro bono, since we were all volunteers—and who were willing to tackle the long-term implications of the fiscal dumpster fire that was laid before us one month ago, only to be lumped in to this characterization of the board as nothing but heartless corporate overlords.

It is so unfair to them, and to Laura, whose attempt to expand and diversify the board was undervalued and undermined. 

The Texas Observer needs some serious restructuring and patriarchy-smashing; my most sincere hope is that it happens quickly so that Texas has the investigative non-profit journalistic enterprise with the integrity and transparency that it deserves.