Rob Curley, executive editor of The Spokesman-Review, has been placed on administrative leave as of Aug. 7, according to a press release from Publisher William “Stacey” Cowles.

The decision follows several personnel complaints from newsroom staff. A workplace investigation overseen by independent legal counsel is expected to take two to three weeks. Staff from Comma Journalism Lab, a nonprofit founded by Curley, that is in the process of taking ownership of The Spokesman-Review, were asked to work outside the newspaper offices until the investigation is complete. 

In the meantime, Managing Editor Lindsey Treffry will manage news operations during the investigation, according to the press release.

Cowles declines to comment for this story.

On Monday, Aug. 10, the Spokane Editorial Society, the collective bargaining unit and professional advocacy group for the newsroom and editorial staff for The Spokesman-Review, approved a vote of no confidence in the continued leadership of Curley as executive editor, a press release from the group states.

Tom Clouse, president of the Spokane Editorial Society, says the group is comprised of about 30 nonmanagerial newsroom staff, including reporters, copy editors, and photojournalists. About 90% participated in the vote on Monday night, Clouse says. Of those, two members abstained from voting and the remainder voted in favor of a vote of no confidence.

Clouse declines to provide additional comment.

"While we acknowledge the result of the no confidence vote, the circumstances behind it are part of an ongoing personnel matter," Clouse says in the release. "Out of respect to those processes, we cannot comment further at this time." 

In May, Comma reached its $2 million fundraising goal, allowing The Spokesman-Review to move forward with its shift to a nonprofit model and receive $2 million in matching funds from the Cowles Co., the Journal previously reported.

“I want to assure readers, donors, and partners that these events have no bearing on our transaction with Comma,” Cowles says in the release.

The closing date for the transaction with Comma is “imminent” but will be delayed several weeks as a result of the investigation, according to the press release.

Cowles Co. President Stacey Cowles is among the fourth generation of family leadership of the 132-year-old Spokane-based company. Cowles Co. subsidiaries are engaged in real estate, forestry, media, papermaking, and venture capital and include Inland Empire Paper Co., KHQ-TV, Cowles Real Estate, and the Journal of Business.

Editor's note: This article has been updated to clarify the personnel complaints were from newsroom staff.