Bakst reportedly taking buyout

As I reported last week, ProJo political columnis M. Charles Bakst had previously been considering retiring next year, so it's not a big surprise that, according to Channel 10, he has elected to take the latest buyout at the newspaper. The big question now becomes whether the Journal will maintain its political column.

The longtime political columnist for The Providence Journal is retiring.

M. Charles Bakst is taking a buyout that was recently offered to a number of Journal employees.

For the past 40 years, Bakst has written weekly and Sunday columns for the newspaper. He also served as State House bureau chief.

He is known for skewering high-ranking politicians from both parties.

Bakst's last day at The Providence Journal will be Sept. 12.