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Don Forst resigned as editor-in-chief of the Village Voice on Monday after nine years at the helm, during which time the paper won a Pulitzer Prize for international reporting and announced two changes in ownership—the second of which is the still-looming merger with New Times.

That deal, which was green-lighted by the Justice Department last week, had been expected to hasten Forst's departure.

"A number of prospects have presented themselves and I think this is an opportune time to explore them," Forst said in an e-mail to the Voice staff. "These nine years have been exciting for me because of what this paper does and what it represents to the city; and that's because of all of you. I am proud of all that we have accomplished together."

In her own e-mail, publisher Judy Miszner said, "Don has held the Voice to the highest levels of professionalism and journalistic integrity. It is no coincidence that during Don's tenure the Voice has maintained a national reputation of excellence and received numerous awards, including NY Press Club, Deadline Club, Livingston, Mike Berger, Front Page, IRE and a Pulitzer for International Reporting."

Forst will remain at the Voice through the end of the year, and, according to Miszner's e-mail, managing editor Doug Simmons "will oversee the editorial department on an interim basis."