Reuters has fired a bureau chief who had worked at the agency for 20 years for making a crude remark in an internal online chatroom.
David Fox, head of the Indonesian bureau since January, was on temporary assignment to Japan last month to cover the aftermath of the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear meltdown.
His offending remark was made in an exchange with Andrew Marshall, a senior editor on the Asia desk in Singapore. He was reprimanded and given a written warning.
Other journalists, mostly in other regions, were also in the chatroom, which was created specifically for Reuters staff involved in the Japan disaster story.
Fox, a Zimbabwean who has served many assignments in war zones, was dismissed without possibility of appeal. He is thought to be consulting lawyers.
Many staff are said to be upset about his departure, arguing that he was involved in typical newsroom banter.
There is also a belief that the decision, which was made by Reuters in the US, is further proof of the agency's Americanisation since it was acquired three years ago by Thomson.
