Most of Staff at Oil Publication Quit in Dispute

Most of the editorial and business staff at Petroleum Intelligence Weekly, an authoritative oil industry publication, have resigned, but its publisher says the newsletter will continue to publish.

Of an editorial staff of 10, two remain, and two business staff members have left, publisher Wanda Jablonski said Friday. She said the resignations followed a dispute between her and the newsletter’s business manager.

However, industry sources said 16 out of 18 staff members worldwide have left the publication. The newsletter masthead says there are 15 specialized staff editors.

“We will continue publishing,” Jablonski said. However, she added: “We will have some glitches here and there.”

Jablonski said the dispute grew out of staffers signing employment contracts with the business manager, who then tried to sell the contracts to her. Neither the business manager nor the former staff members could be reached for comment.

Industry sources said the dispute involved a possible sale of the publication by Jablonski.