Two deputy editors leave Calcalist amid broader newsroom shakeup

Calcalist deputy editors Golan Friedenfeld and Amir Ziv told staff they are leaving the business daily, intensifying the turmoil at the Yedioth Ahronoth-owned paper and marking what the article describes as the end of its founding generation. Their next roles have not yet been announced.

In a note to employees, the two said they will finish on June 30, after nearly 19 years at the paper. They wrote that Calcalist had been “a beloved and enormously significant workplace,” but said that after the departures of their partners in founding and editing the paper, they felt it was right to step down as well.

They added, “Everything is still fresh, and it is still too early to write a proper farewell,” saying that for now they only want to say they are proud of “the wonderful newspaper that grew here.” The resignations come after Calcalist announced Ariel Shmidberg as its new editor, following a dramatic wave of departures that began with editor Galit Hemi, who led the paper since its launch.

Hemi said she was leaving because of “changing circumstances” and her commitment to her professional path. Her exit follows that of publisher Yoel Esteron, who is expected to leave at the end of June. The shakeup is tied to a broader strategic plan at the Yedioth group, including operational and organizational mergers similar to the earlier consolidation of ynet and Yedioth Ahronoth to reduce staff and resources. Under the plan, Calcalist’s commercial matters and partnerships will be placed under Yedioth’s central management, led by Simantov-Haviv and ynet CEO Shai Magal.