It's official—Morning Call editorial VP Ardith Hilliard is stepping down, according to today's TMC. She will be replaced by Managing Editor Dave Erdman. The story indicates that the decision was voluntary on Hilliard's part, but insiders know she was given a year to decide to take a buyout after a visit from Tribune CIO Lee Abrams.

Bypassing the chance to eliminate a six-figure unnecessary position (the Call has seven vice presidents), CEO Tim Kennedy promoted Erdman. Now we wait to see if he does the next stupidest thing by promoting Metro Editor Mike Miorelli into Erdman's position. The triumvirat of Hilliard/Erdman/Miorelli, say employees, has put the Call into it's present downward spiral. Getting rid of one bad apple while promoting the other two makes little sense. It should be interesting to watch the ongoing circus evolve.