L.A. Times editor fired, "significant changes" ahead

LA TIMES EDITOR FIRED, "SIGNIFICANT CHANGES" AHEAD
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Alexandria Sage]
The editor of the Los Angeles Times, James O'Shea, has been fired over a budgetary dispute only 14 months after he took over the post. O'Shea, a veteran of the Chicago Tribune who was hired by the Times in November 2006, was fired by publisher David Hiller after he refused to carry out some $4 million in cuts. O'Shea's firing comes one month after the paper's parent, Tribune Co, completed an $8.2 billion buyout led by Chicago real estate tycoon Sam Zell. he deal restructured Tribune as an employee-owned company funded largely by debt. Zell, who remade Tribune's board of directors as he assumed the roles of chairman and chief executive of the restructured company, has said repeatedly he will not interfere with editorial decisions, but would make regional executives like Hiller strictly accountable for their papers' financial performance.
http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSN2034439220080121
* Zell and O'Shea Discuss 'L.A. Times' Uproar
Sam Zell has sent an email to staff offering his backing to Publisher David Hiller on the move. O'Shea, meanwhile, spoke to his staffers today. He has said he was fired, while Zell and Hiller continue to suggest he agreed to leave.
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_con...

* Editor Fires Parting Shot at His Chain
The ousted editor of The Los Angeles Times on Monday offered a scathing critique of the newspaper industry and specifically his longtime employer, the Tribune Company, arguing that cost cuts, a lack of investment and an aversion to serious news was damaging the business.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/22/business/media/22paper.html?ref=todays...

* Why Los Angeles Times Can't Keep an Editor
Dispute with publisher reflects a broader debate over how newspapers can stay afloat amid declining revenues.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120086036844103713.html?mod=todays_us_ma...

* Zell backs decision at Times
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-tribune22jan22,1,9063...