DETROIT (TIP): An Indian American Pulitzer-winning editor of a prominent US publication has announced his decision to step down next year to save the jobs of his staff members from impending companywide layoffs. Peter Bhatia, 69, editor and vice president of Gannett-owned Detroit Free Press, announced his decision at a staff meeting held last week after the company reported back-to-back quarterly losses. “We’re in a difficult period economically,” Bhatia was quoted as saying in his newspaper, which employs a total of 110 people.

“The company is going through a layoff process, and I essentially made the decision to lay myself off in the interest of saving other jobs. I do have other opportunities that will probably come to work out at some point,” he added.

“But if by getting my salary out of the budget it saves some jobs of people on the staff, I think that’s the right thing for the Free Press,” Bhatia, who will step down in January, said.

Bhatia, who hails from Lucknow, joined The Free Press in September 2017, after two years as editor and vice president of The Cincinnati Enquirer and cincinnati.com.

There are no reports of Bhatia’s replacement yet but the deadline for the newspaper staffers to volunteer for layoffs is next week, the media reported.

The staff layoffs are tentatively set to take effect January 18, 2023, the paper reported. Meanwhile, journalists who worked with Bhatia over the years, took to Twitter to say that he stood for “quality journalism” and his quitting is a “big loss” and a “sad day” for Detroit Free Press. “Turns out you can be an amazing journalist, win Pulitzers and keep your principles after all. Peter is one of the absolute best,” a reporter said.