The venerable alt.weekly The Village Voice saw its acting editor depart Tuesday, apparently over a story that contained some fabrications.

An excerpt from the March 14 AP story on thestar.com:

The Voice announced the departure of Doug Simmons on its website by posting a photograph of a paper napkin bearing a handwritten note from Michael Lacey, executive editor of Village Voice Media.

"Doug Simmons is no longer acting editor," the napkin said. ``Ward Harkavy, longtime senior editor and Arizona crony, is now interim editor. Call us tomorrow for next update.''

In a brief telephone interview Tuesday, Lacey confirmed Simmons was out but declined to say whether he quit or was fired. He also wouldn't say whether the change was related to the paper's retracted March 1-7 cover story, a look at the New York dating scene by writer Nick Sylvester.

Almost immediately after its publication, the Voice revealed Sylvester had fabricated anecdotes for the article, including a section that purported to describe a real-life television writer cruising for women at a bar.

The screenwriter threatened a lawsuit. Sylvester was suspended, and the Voice apologized for "shoddy journalism.''

The article notes that since a merger with New Times Media, Doug Forst, the editor for nine years, and publisher Julie Miszener have both left.