Tribune Company Defections: Los Angeles Times Publisher, Chicago Tribune Editor Resign

NEW YORK — The Los Angeles Times says publisher David Hiller has resigned after 21 months at the helm of Tribune Co.'s largest paper.

The news comes the same day Chicago Tribune editor Ann Marie Lipinski resigned from Tribune's flagship paper, continuing a string of executive defections amid a broad cost-cutting effort at the company's papers nationwide.

Hiller was the third publisher to lead the Times since Tribune Co. bought the paper in 2000. Predecessor Jeffrey Johnson was ousted in late 2006 when he balked at trimming newsroom staff to cut costs.

The Times said two weeks ago it will cut 250 positions, including 150 in the newsroom. The paper did not immediately name a successor.

Comments

[bernhart]

Agree fully with Dezzertguy: The Chicago Tribune in an absolute embarrassment and I have to say I am very glad they are downsizing, they should have known better. They sat on the Rev. Wright /Obama story for a whole year, they are still sitting on his real estate dealings . The Chicago Tribune lent credence to whatever Obama said , period. Obama's organizing efforts in Chicago are a disgrace, a slum, rat infested area , this is his legacy in Chicago. The Chicago Tribune would not touch this, they think they do the country a favor by not touching certain things; well, here is the news: you are supposed to touch these things, you are supposed to report on these things. You fail to do your job, bye, bye .......

[bascombe]

They used the budget to cut the heart and quality out of the LATimes.

People won't buy what they can't trust.

[kassandrasduplex]

Thank you Sam Zelionka...you have destroyed one of America's once-great dailies. In an interview I caught of Old Sam Zell in a business article he admitted what he thought were the basic motivations in the world: greed and fear. I cannot recall where I read that, but I did, and I was disappointed to see where one of our civic icons and corporate leaders was directed.

[bobo6]

Dezzertguy ,as a Chicago resident I ask you when is the last time the Chicago Tribune has endorsed a Democrat for the presidency of the US ?

[dezzertguy]

Wow, good point. It seems it was 1872. Does the editoral board differ from their correspondents? Have they been a lead on the lead on the investigations of Obama as they were Ryan's divorce? Did they break on Obama's land deal, Rev. Wright or other Obama issues?

[dooleynoted]

Actually the Tribune has endorsed Obama three times - in the Senate primary and general election and in the Presidential primary. M guess is they will endorse him in the general as well.

[bluegreen]

I lived in LA for many years and the best thing about it was reading the LA Times. It pains me to no end to think this great paper has been hit with a sledgehammer. It's not a dinosaur, as some say. I'm a researcher and Internet nut but were I living in LA, I'd still be buying the Times. Not just for the news but the really interesting and varied first-page feature stories and all the rest of it. Just a great great paper. It had character, zest and great writing. It was alive. When I moved away, I even tried to have it mailed to me daily but the cost was prohibitive. There's something wrong with a world with no LA Times. In a city with so much money, what a tragedy...

[Gasparilla]

I love a daily newspaper. And trying to read one on the internet is not nearly the same thing.

[gun]

some of the best writing in US and they can certainly tell a story better than the NYTimes -- must be all that Hollywood training.

[kassandrasduplex]

The LA Times is a shadow of its former self. Reading it recently I was struck by the feeling that I was reading the Orange Counry Register, one of the very worst "newspapers" I've ever touched. It was like 30 pages of advertizing with about 3 actual news stories in it.

[bikerdude]

A few more good reasons why the likes of Sammy Zell should never be permitted to run a news organization. His bag is selling real estate or shoes or something. He is one of the big problems. There must be a way to create newspapers, either paper or online that reflect the community where they are published. If we don't do this we will become even less informed citizens. The current internet stuff, by nature, is national or international. The bloggers are not organized or managed, so they can say whatever they want with virtually no recourse....Just like I am doing here.

[InnocentBystander]

There may come a day when we'll have to confront new Internet models that require reader support. Not so much for blogs doing commentary, but legitimate sites that employ journalists to cover the news in-depth and do investigative reporting. Maybe it can happen with ad based financing, but quality news organizations built on the net may require subscriptions to fund. I'd certainly be willing to kick in a monthly subscription if the choice was that...or nothing.

[Big0725]

Newspapers are like buggy whips. No matter how well constructed, it's still antiquated equipment needing to be retired. The only reason I buy a newspaper is to do the puzzles, but even this dinosaur is changing. Save a tree and use the computer.

[Gasparilla]

And who do you think is going to do all the local news and investigations of local politicians. Television with it's "if it bleeds, it leads" mentality? Internet sites? I think not. But on second thought, if all you're doing is puzzles, you probably don't care.

[gun]

most newspapers won't touch the real problems -- it's counter--remunerative -- and people who think they do -- wake up and smell the coffee -- are deluded sheep...baa... Seriously, what major problem we face have we been honestly warned about by the established media? What have they ever gotten right, these shepherds of the nation? Only what has already happened or is finally obvious to everyone, so safe to mention. Zell is a slave to the bottom line, drunk on money, and under the delusion it can make him forget his oh so limited little self. Citizen Zell, there's a horror movie for ya. Casting call for Danny DeVito, uh, is there a Rumpelstiltskin in the house? Oh, what a newspaper could be if reporters were free to tell what they really see!

[adzeman]

Seems newspapers are like pro sports teams, bad ownership equals bad teams. The LA Times is dreadful. They have the worst editorial staff in the nation. That was once a proud paper, now its a useless rag.

[danoj]

Who cares? Who the heck below 40 uses print media anymore?

[Clem2]

And look how literate that generation is. And how cultured. And how far behind the rest of the world of the same generation.

[Jules1]

This is why the Internet must remain free , the government wants only three or four news sources, that wayy they can control completely,
http://www.ringoffireradio.com/

[bikerdude]

This is an important consideration. We already see many examples of the government pressuring the media and offering propaganda for publication. How many times has the NY Times admitted that it either didn't publish or delayed publishing certain stories due to pressure from the Bus h admin?

[Meah]

I canceled the L.A. Times after I read some horrendous drivel from Jonah Goldberg and a whole bunch of good people were let go. Born in L.A., we always read the L.A. Times. But it is hardly recognizable. I get calls from them asking me to resubscribe. I tell them I will after they get rid of Goldberg. The last guy I spoke to yelled at me about how things change, etc. So crazy! Funny thing is, there is a Sunday Times on my driveway each Sunday. Unsolicited. I read the ads.

[gun]

Amen! Jonah Goldberg is the reigning worst columnist in America since the Washington Post's Kelley died in a Hummer in Iraq wrapped in the flag -- too much for even God to stand another day.

[InnocentBystander]

Competition used to be the check against misinformation. If a paper wanted to tow a Party line, the consumer could buy the competing paper if he/she thought they weren't getting the truth. With media consolidation and concentration, it's no longer the case. The majors are filling their pages with info news / infomercials/ just about anything except information that truly informs. On top of that, people are turning to the internet where they can get important information faster, with more depth and POV. It really is a dying medium.

My concern now is that the internet doesn't become dominated by a few carriers and a few choices. If we lose control over the democratizing media of information dissemination that is the hallmark of the internet today, we are truly screwed.

[Trittydi]

Good points. Internet Neutrality is crucial to this concern.

Educate yourselves everyone -- be ready to grab your internet pitchforks to do battle on behalf of Internet Neutrality -- without it -- they'll ruin the internet the same way they ruined the print media.
*

[Krikkit]

I predicted the gutting of newspapers some time ago. Media consolidation continues unabated. Soon there will be nothing but FOX (and mimics) and the internet, and expect the internet to go next.

[Trittydi]

The internet would have had an impact here regardless -- but these news outfits really did themselves in.
*

[letsgetsmart]

The republicans bought up all of the newspapers to put out their garbage and now no one consumes them. The same for the msm. No one watches unless they want to find out the latest corruption line. Knowing that republicans are long range planners, it must have really ticked them off when the net exploded on the scene. If it had come sooner the public may not have fallen for their lies but at the same time they may have focused on taking over this info source and we would be totally screwed. It must have been hard for the tubes generation to think this could be a real problem for them. So I guess this question is, was this the plan all along to corrupt the media so no one would tune in and they could do what they wanted? This is like a Louis Lamour story of a small town in the wild west where the bad guys own the only newspaper and the town marshal so the law is what they say it is.

[larry278]

The rats are jumping from sinking ships. When will the employees of Sam Zell's other Trib owned papers start jumping or did they beat the people in LA & Chicago to it? Then again editors, publishers & writers on a paper in a 1 paper town aren't too swift. Note, I didn't say reporters for papers in 1 paper towns don't hire or use reporters. The sites used by Trib papers can be converted to warehouse space overnight & be sold quickly by Mr Zell after he folds the papers. Sam is said to know real estate. People who hold paper from Sam will take the money & run. 25 cents on the dollar is good now for those who finance LBO's.

[dezzertguy]

Another milepost in the decline of newspapers in the US. Especially since the Chicago Tribune is a major reason Obama has enjoyed his success. The paper released the "sealed" divorce of Jack Ryan, his Rep opponent for the US Senate seat, and he had to withdraw from the race. That left an open door for Obama. Given the slant of the Tribune and the MSM in general, you really cannot feel bad for their decline. They have decided to leave reporting in order to support the Dems/liberals/socialists and they are losing their business. It was their choice.

[Birdman]

I hate to point out to you, but it was the news media that has gotten us to where we are today by supporting the Bush adminstration, but who cares right as long as O Reily tells you how to think it is all taken care of. Damn liberal media, seems to me it was the NYT that broke the WMD story, course it was fed to them by the Whitehouse then the whithouse said see we told you there was WMD look at the NYT. But I guess as long as the media reports what you like great, the minute they question the Emporer oh they are tooooo liberal. I guess though when I think about it to an exptent I have to agree that the media is somewhat liberal, most thinking people are.

[dezzertguy]

I never watch O'Reilly thank you. You are very emotional and I hope this political season will allow you to be okay. I would not expect you to know of the Ryan article but the Tribune used it to derail his bid for Senate. You do not care about facts, let your emotions be your guide but leave me out.

[raymurt]

Hey dezz, wrong website dittohead!
Now, you just go back to your radio and listen to Rush, then turn on O'Reilly to get the truth
Too bad about your boy Tony, you have to respect those professional well paid liars

[dezzertguy]

Sorry to disturb you, please go back to sleep.