On a Monday morning in August 2011, I was suddenly summoned to a conference call. A fellow employee said my services were no longer required. I was then handed a packet, and in the style of William Holden in Network, told to vacate the premises by 1:30 p.m.
Several colleagues were also sent packing that day, and this had been cast as a “downsizing.” This meant there would be no individual severance packages, like the generous deals for previous staff members who departed the Bay Area think tank under a cloud.
In my 13-year stint as editorial director, I had gladly recommended
