LAT publisher who stood up to Tribune? Gone.

Romenesko's got the news.

Can't say I'm surprised. If the Tribune suits actually let their publishers care about journalism, profit margins might drop below 25 percent.

 

I had high hopes on this, but I guess it wasn't very realistic, especially at the publisher (business) level. Story says Baquet will be asked to stay, but he's not going to have an ally anymore.

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003221039

 

Yup, the way to stop circulation and ad revs from dropping is can the guy who stands up for the readers and the advertisers and says "We wont dilute the product any more..."
Assclowns... If that was the case, the Cubbies should have been sold in 1988

 

Yes, thoroughly expected

 

Publisher of the LA Times is fired

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/05/business/media/06papercnd.html?hp&ex=1160107200&en=22e32d60f9e4b22c&ei=5094&partner=homepage

Sounds like Tribune Publishing is a swell place to work.

Love this:

In a memo to the staff this morning, Janet Clayton, an editor, wrote: “Sorry to tell you that we are told that Jeff Johnson is out as publisher of The Los Angeles Times.”

Editor needs an editor.

 

My guess is the guy knew was likely already targeted when he stood up to them. I would think it wasn't the first time he'd voiced his dissent, but previous times it would have been in a boardroom

 

Dean Baquet has told top editors he's staying, according to L.A. Observed.

 

I think people of integrity have to ask themselves in these situations: "Is the paper, its employees, its readers and the business in general better off having me here or having me leave so maybe someone less principled can take my place?" It's great to take a stand, but what do you achieve if you can't be there anymore? The cuts are going to be done with you or without you. With you, they are done by someone who knows and understands the paper, staff and city; without you they are done by someone brought in from Chicago. Which is better?

 

Re: Publisher of the LA Times is fired

Gee, what a surprise. He actually took a stand for journalism and the employees under his wing.

We kind of knew what would happen next. I hope this guy gets a chance somewhere else.

 

Re: Publisher of the LA Times is fired

Good work, d_b.ca (for those of you who missed it, JR was just being JR. Carry on.)

 

Is everything a fight with you? Cripes ...

 

Nikki Finke, who has alway struck me as somewhat, well, nuts, refers to Dean Baquet as "gutless" here for not quitting:

http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/la-times-chaos-current-publisher-fired-tribune-toadie-hired-baquet-battling/

That gives no thought to the possibility that at least for now, he's staying to continue fighting the good fight for his staff, rather than him and three other top editors leaving (because of a "suicide pact") and then getting a complete unknown as his replacement.