New Animals’ Agenda editor quits; board sacks Greanville
From ANIMAL PEOPLE, April 1993:
MONROE, Connecticut–– Apparently on the verge of bank-
ruptcy after seven months of late issues and falling circulation, The
Animals’ Agenda magazine is again rudderless as well. Acting editor
Jim Motavalli quit in late February, acting publisher Patrice Greanville
was fired two weeks later in a move of questionable legality, and the
salaries and hours of the two staffers left, art director Julia Timpanelli
and part-time business manager Peter Hoyt, were cut in half.
Motavalli quit, he said, “because it was taking too much of
my time, and I didn’t want a career in animal rights.” He had worked
one day a week for a stipend of $200/week since August 1992. Other
sources said he was tired of second-guessing by the board of directors.
As editor of the Fairfield Advocate, a local weekly, Motavalli had no
background in animal work, but was elected to the board in 1991 upon
the nomination of Jim Mason, a board member 1988-1991, following
a stint as both editor and board member, 1981-1986. Motavalli suc-
ceeeded to the editorship after helping orchestrate the firing of Merritt
Clifton, news editor from mid-1988 until the July/August 1992 issue.