Pulle-ing Up Stakes: Matt Pulle To Leave The Scene

By Kleinheider Posted on August 15, 2008 at 2:51 pm

After just over eight months on the job, Post Politics has learned that Nashville Scene Managing Editor Matt Pulle is departing the publication. Pulle, a six year veteran of the Scene from 1999 to 2005 returned to the Scene after a three-year stint at The Dallas Observer another Village Voice Media property in January.

Contacted by phone on a brief vacation, the respected investigative reporter and snarky blog poster told Post Politics that the move was not at all an abrupt one but something which had been considered for quite some time.

“I was very happy in Dallas,” explained Pulle, “The reason I came back to Nashville was the opportunity to work with [Former Editor] Liz [Garrigan]. Obviously that opportunity is no longer there.”

Pulle, however, bears no ill will towards the current regime led by Editor Pete Kotz whom he calls a “tremendously accomplished editor.”

Pulle explains the situation thusly, “When a football coach moves to a new team, he often brings on his own number two to implement the changes he wants to make. I think that Pete [Kotz] deserves that opportunity.”

As for what comes next for the career alt-weekly scribe, Pulle would only say he has a number of different and promising opportunities,”It’s not like I’m gonna be in the unemployment line.”

Indeed, Pulle confirms, there was no “leaving in a huff” as one Pith in the Wind commenter suggested earlier this afternoon. Pulle gave his notice this past Tuesday and will serve until mid-September to ease the transition until that aforementioned Kotz number two can be named.

UPDATE: Asked to comment, Liz Garrigan, former Nashville Scene Editor, remarked:

“Matt Pulle’s departure will be the Scene’s great loss — and the gain of whatever lucky soul snags this talent next. Habitues of fascinating, expertly crafted and well-reported journalism — except maybe James Weaver and Tony Giarratana, who will probably celebrate this news with exultation — no doubt will be anxiously hoping he doesn’t flee the industry altogether. I certainly count myself in that group. And while it’s probably not big enough to hold all of his admirers, I offer my house for the going-away bash.”

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Tags: Liz Garrigan, Matt Pulle, Nashville Scene, Pete Kotz