L.A. Times Editor Dean Baquet Resigns Under Pressure from Tribune
Which is a technical way of saying that Baquet has been fired.
When things happen at the L.A. Times, the place to read about it is L.A. Observed. Today is no exception; go here for details.
According to the L.A. Observed post, people at the paper are not happy. L.A. Observed reminds us that top editors had pledged to leave if Baquet were forced to step down. I don’t know whether there will be mass resignations or not, but it’s safe to say that the paper will experience some tumult in coming days, as staffers and editors express their disgust with Tribune — by word, deed, or perhaps both.
UPDATE: This was posted from my Treo. I didn’t know that See Dubya had already broken the news below. Ah well. I’m closing comments on his post; you can comment here.
UPDATE x2: Here is the L.A. Times story on the resignation.
But is this good or bad?
Comment by bains (9ab9f8) — 11/7/2006 @ 5:54 pm
Maybe Wendy McCaw can advise them on how to fill the holes.
Comment by Vermont Neighbor (456914) — 11/7/2006 @ 6:09 pm
[...] Just so there is no confusion about where to comment, I’m closing comments here. Leave your comments on my post. [...]
Pingback by Patterico’s Pontifications » See-Dubya: Dean Baquet To Leave LA Times (421107) — 11/7/2006 @ 6:10 pm
Personally, I would have fired that snotty little guy years ago.
Comment by Justice Frankfurter (ac6d4b) — 11/7/2006 @ 6:21 pm
As quoted by Times Publisher David D. Hiller: “This is, I think, one of the, if not the, greatest papers in the country,”
And therein lies the problem. It’s good to bolster staff. It’s not good to ignore community response… or dwindling circulation.
Comment by Vermont Neighbor (456914) — 11/7/2006 @ 6:24 pm
As I read LA Observed, I am struck by the old fashioned romanticism of all the players. I feel like I’m watching Front Page (written in the ’20s), not reading about a modern business enterprise.
Their customers mostly hate them and they are losing advertisers. The Tribune should subsidize this!?
Grow up, fellas, and make a good newspaper.
Comment by Patricia (2cc180) — 11/7/2006 @ 5:55 pm
I suspect all the columnists will stay, unfortunately.
Comment by Kevin Murphy (0b2493) — 11/7/2006 @ 7:28 pm
I reiterate: The Tribune Co. should be sold to the Moonies, and they should bring in Tony Blankley to takeover the LAT.
Comment by Another Drew (8018ee) — 11/7/2006 @ 8:36 pm
My only question is: who will fill the void?
Comment by TimesDisliker (7fe1aa) — 11/7/2006 @ 9:12 pm
The only way to improve this paper is to add horoscopes and pictures of Lindsay Lohan’s underwear.
Comment by Vermont Neighbor (456914) — 11/7/2006 @ 9:40 pm
Hope Jack Welch buys the Boston Globe and starts a bloodbath up in Beantown! Or Geffen sells his Malibu digs, buys the LAT, and turns it into the SF Chronicle!
Dead Trees deserve better fates.
Comment by daveinboca (da9ded) — 11/8/2006 @ 5:26 am