A paper that I applied to took it upon themselves to call my paper and ask for the ME to get a reference for me. So any calls to my ME or AME wouldn't provide much. I have considered including my latest performance review. I hate this. Your editors seem to be taking natural career changes and growth too personally.
Loyalty is important, but indentured servitude has been abolished.
While newspaper companies are free to buy, sell, swap and combine, sending employees every which way, some managers seem to have unreasonable expectations for loyalty. It can't be a one-way street. Look, my editor doesn't know I'm looking, and has said he'll hold it against anyone who does, so please treat this with discretion. Please do not call my references until we get to the point where it looks like I am a very serious candidate for this position. I'd like to be the one to tell them that they might get a call.