Love him (read: Washington Times haters) or hate him (read: Washington Times lovers, Fran Coombs, Wes Pruden, etc., etc.), George Archibald‘s raison d’etre (read: Bugging Washington Times lovers) continues: His longtime blogged about book, “Journalism is War” (which Archibald says will be published by Anomalos Publishing in October), at the very least now has cover art:

From TWT:

David Jones has been named managing editor of The Washington Times and will assume repsonsibility for all print content. Mr. Jones is both a veteran newsman and a Times stalwart; he has been foreign editor of the paper since 1994.

Read the rest here. Jones replaces Fran Coombs.

(earlier: “BREAKING: John Solomon To Replace Pruden At The Washington Times“)

A source tells FishbowlDC that the Washington Times’ Fran Coombs — whom many thought would replace Wes Pruden as executive editor — announced that he is leaving the paper during today’s 4 pm news meeting. He didn’t say where he was going.

Supposedly, it’s so Solomon can pick his own managing editor.

The Washington Times has named John F. Solomon as executive editor. He succeeds Wes Pruden, who will retire after 25 years at the paper.

Solomon hails from the Post where he’s headed the paper’s investigative reporting team. Previously, he was the Associated Press’ director of Multimedia Investigative Reporting, assistant bureau chief, news editor and reporter in Washington, DC.

Pruden will continue his column, “Pruden on Politics.”

>Is Fran Coombs upset?

>Is this hire, coupled with the Washington Times’ new marketing plan, a sign of a vastly different paper, being taken in a vastly different direction?

>MediaMatters is sure to say “no” to the above question, having written about Solomon in the past. Although, to be fair: Despite its good work from time to time, MediaMatters’ mission is to basically not like anybody.

>What does this mean for the Post’s Interactive Investigations Section? Who will do the Post’s “Things You Didn’t Know” about the candidates feature?

As of this writing, Robert Stacy McCain is back in the Washington Times’ newsroom. Fran Coombs shook hands with him and they walked into Fran’s office, with Coombs smiling. The door was shut.

(earlier: Stacy McCain Resigned? and McCain Update)

That’s what we’re hearing this evening, that Washington Times Assistant National Editor Robert Stacy McCain called National Editor Ken Hanner today and declared his intention to resign.

Why? Well, McCain was the person mentioned in our earlier blind item. During a heated moment in the Times newsroom yesterday, McCain’s temper rose over what others described as his frustration with having too many jobs to juggle (the same sources also confirm that McCain does, in fact, contribute in myriad ways for the newspaper).

Sources told FishbowlDC that they heard McCain get into a charged debate with Deputy National Editor Victor Morton and then, fully irate, McCain proceeded to storm into Hanner’s office where voices were raised and “I quit” was overheard by those outside Hanner’s door. This carried into the newsroom — “a yelling fit,” said one — and everyone in the newsroom heard and watched McCain’s dramatic exit.

Upon leaving the newsroom, McCain violently slammed through a pair of heavy steel doors, kicking them open and nearly hitting Assistant Metro Editor Lyn Pusey, who just barely dodged the flying doors.

But the assumption was that McCain would return to work on Wednesday and all would be well, but that did not happen. And now we hear that McCain called into Hanner today to confirm his desire to quit. Still, word is that this has happened before (a few times, even) and there is some speculation tonight that Managing Editor Fran Coombs is prepared to try to sooth McCain’s ruffled feathers and try talk him back into the newsroom.

Stay tuned…(for what it’s worth, McCain’s Facebook page still has him with the paper…)

(Photo Credit)

FishbowlDC hears that five finalists for Wes Pruden’s job will be at the Times this week for final interviews. The staff expects an announcement the following week, at the Times’ 25th anniversary party.

Two names in the hunt: Managing Editor Fran Coombs and UPI’s Martin Walker.