A Massachusetts newspaper with a 139-year legacy has published its final edition after reaching a $1.1 million settlement in a high-profile defamation case brought by Everett Mayor Carlo DeMaria. The Everett Leader Herald, established in 1885, was accused of fabricating quotes and engaging in a smear campaign against DeMaria in articles that branded him “Kickback Carlo” and alleged bribery and extortion.

Mayor alleges corruption and defamation

“What the Everett Leader Herald, its owner, and its publisher and editor did to my family and me—publishing article after article, accusation after accusation about me that they knew were false, that they knew they had no basis for… wasn’t just dishonest. It was corrupt,” Mayor DeMaria stated at a press conference after the settlement announcement.

The lawsuit, filed in 2021, alleged that Joshua Resnek, the paper’s publisher and editor, and Matthew Philbin, its owner, knowingly published false stories in retaliation for the mayor not supporting Philbin’s business interests. Court filings revealed emails from Resnek admitting to fabricating stories, including a statement where he acknowledged, “Each week, 52 times a year, I invent the Leader Herald … The mayor is my enemy.”

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Legal and ethical fallout

The settlement has been widely regarded as a textbook case of defamation, demonstrating “actual malice”—a key standard requiring proof that falsehoods were knowingly or recklessly published. Northeastern University journalism professor Dan Kennedy described it as “a clearer example of actual malice” in a blog post.

DeMaria’s attorney, Jeff Robbins, expressed concern about the broader implications for public trust in journalism. “This is the kind of set of facts which really does damage to journalists who work their tails off to do the right thing,” Robbins told the Boston Globe.

Impact on local journalism

The closure of the Leader Herald leaves Everett with just two local newspapers, raising fears of diminished accountability in reporting. Resident Paula Sterite criticized the dwindling local media landscape, saying, “We’re stuck with propaganda.” Critics worry that the absence of an independent voice will lead to coverage heavily skewed in favor of local officials.

The Leader Herald’s downfall underscores the critical importance of ethical journalism. As observers reflect on the case, it serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of breaching journalistic integrity and the far-reaching effects on community trust in the media.