Tribune Co. ousts LA Times publisher
26 minutes ago
Los Angeles Times Publisher Jeffrey M. Johnson was forced out Thursday, a month after he defied parent company Tribune Co.'s demand for what he considered potentially damaging staff cuts.
He is being succeeded by David D. Hiller, who has been publisher of the Chicago Tribune, the Tribune Co. said in a statement.
"Jeff and I agreed that this change is best at this time because Tribune and Times executives need to be aligned on how to shape our future," said Scott Smith, Tribune Publishing president. "We thank Jeff for his leadership of important advances at the Times and his significant contributions during his Tribune career."
Neither Tribune spokesman Gary Weitman nor Times spokesman David Garcia immediately returned a phone call seeking comment.
In a Web-posted story, the newspaper reported that Tribune had asked Johnson to resign and that Hiller was expected to ask Times Editor Dean Baquet to stay, despite the editor's own protests against further job cuts by the newspaper's Chicago-based parent corporation.
Times editorial staff had rallied behind Johnson and Baquet and sent a letter supporting them to Tribune executives.
Late last month, Tribune announced it would study the possible sale or breakup of the corporation, which owns the Chicago Tribune, KTLA-TV Channel 5, baseball's Chicago Cubs and other TV stations and newspapers.
The Tribune board is expected to decide on a course by year's end. Chief Executive Dennis FitzSimons has said plans would not include selling the Times.
Tribune has called for cuts at all its newspapers, which include The (Baltimore) Sun, Orlando Sentinel and Newsday. The Times, the nation's fourth-largest paper by circulation, has already cut 200 editorial positions during the past five years.
Johnson seemed to soften his stance regarding cuts after meeting with Smith before Tribune's Sept. 21 board meeting. In a memo sent to staffers, Johnson emphasized cooperation and shared goals between the newspaper and its owner.
Like many old media companies, Tribune has been struggling with declining advertising and circulation as readers age and younger consumers turn to the Web for news. Meanwhile, shareholders have been clamoring for the results that were promised when the company bought Times Mirror in 2000 for about $8 billion.
While the Chicago Tribune is the namesake paper of the Tribune media empire, the Times is its single largest asset, accounting for nearly 20 percent of its 2005 revenue of $5.6 billion, according to sources cited by the Times.
Johnson was executive vice president and general manager of the Times when he took over as publisher June 1, 2005. He replaced John Puerner, who along with Johnson joined the paper as part of a management shake-up shortly after Tribune bought Times Mirror Co.
Before joining the Times, Johnson served as president and chief executive officer of Landoll Inc., a former Tribune Education company. He joined Tribune in 1984 and has held positions at the Chicago Tribune and Orlando Sentinel.
Times Publisher Johnson Forced Out
By James Rainey
Times Staff Writer
11:52 AM PDT, October 5, 2006
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.
Tribune Publishing President Scott C. Smith huddled with top managers at the newspaper this morning and announced that David Hiller, publisher of the Chicago Tribune, would immediately replace Johnson as chief executive at the 125-year-old newspaper. Hiller is the 12th publisher of The Times.
"After a thorough review, Jeff and I agreed that he should resign at this time," Smith said in a statement. "We do agree on many priorities to best serve our customers, communities and shareholders. The Times' has also made great progress on many fronts in the face of intense marketplace challenges. However, this leadership change is necessary because of important differences on how best to shape our future."
Hiller was expected to ask Times Editor Dean Baquet to stay on the job, despite the editor's sharp protests against further job cuts by the Chicago-based parent corporation. Friends of Baquet said the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist had not yet decided to remain with the paper.
In an e-mail to The Times staff this morning Hiller said: "I read and love newspapers and have the highest regard for the Los Angeles Times, its great journalism and the special role it plays in Southern California.
"I believe in the future of newspapers as the most trusted source of news and information in the communities we serve. To achieve that future we have to continue to change because our readers, online users and advertising customers continue to change."
Hiller, a nearly 20-year-long company veteran, has served as publisher of the Chicago Tribune since November 2004. He was previously senior vice president of Tribune Publishing and also served as president of Tribune Interactive.
The Harvard Law School graduate has also served as Tribune Co.'s general counsel and, before joining the company, worked in private law firms and as a special assistant to U.S. Atty. Gen. William French Smith.
Late last month, Tribune announced that it would entertain offers to sell the company or break it into pieces. The company's board agreed to study the possible sale or breakup of the media company, which owns the Chicago Tribune, KTLA-TV Channel 5, baseball's Chicago Cubs and other TV stations and newspapers.
The turmoil at Tribune's largest property comes at a time of marked uncertainty for many media companies, which have seen their audiences and advertising revenues declining with competition from the Internet and other news outlets.
