from latimes.com
The LA Times isn't sugarcoating the truth: Today it reports that publisher Jeff Johnson, who earned grateful appreciation from his staff by putting his foot down against cuts imposed by owners The Tribune Company, was duly "forced out" by those owners earlier today. The LAT's James Rainey makes the connection right off the bat:
The Tribune Co. forced out Los Angeles Times Publisher Jeffrey M. Johnson this morning, a little more than a month after he defied the media conglomerate's demands for staff cuts that he suggested could damage the newspaper.
The new publisher, installed by Tribune Publishing president Scott Smith, is Chicago Tribune publisher David Hiller. Said Smith (while praising Johnson's work, natch): "This leadership change is necessary because of important differences on how best to shape our future."
The jury is out on whether LA Editor Dean Baquet will stay on, or what will become of the staffers who joined in an unofficial "suicide pact" of solidarity with Baquet, who in turn was supported by Johnson.
Update: Baquet says he's staying; Nikki Finke is not impressed.
