“The case contrasts two approaches to journalism and raises questions about how much an owner or a publisher should be involved in determining what ends up in print,” wrote James Rainey, for the Los Angeles Times. “The case has become a cause celebre among journalists nationally and to the residents of Santa Barbara largely because of McCaw's combative stance toward her former employees.”

While McCaw has said in recent opinion pieces she is one of the last in a dying breed that upholds journalistic standards, the publisher has three other legal cases pending against her former editor. Additionally, the National Labor Relations Board complains supervisors and others at the News Press took improper actions nearly 20 times against employees who planned to join the Graphic Communications Conference of the Teamsters union. The paper also stands accused of not only firing eight employees, but also spying on and questioning union activists, giving reprimands and poor performance reviews and canceling a weekly column by Starshine Roshell, who then left the paper.

The hearing will continue until at least mid-September, Rainey reports. Administrative law judge William G. Kocol will then determine whether the journalists were fired improperly. If so, those employees could be entitled to back wages, benefits and possible reinstatement.