Revolt Brewing at L.A. Times

Sept. 20, 2006 — -- Over the last six years, Angelenos have witnessed their hometown newspaper of record -- widely considered to be one of the best in the nation -- thin out as it has steadily been snipped at the corners.

Since the Tribune Company acquired the Los Angeles Times in 2000, readers have been exposed to consistent cuts in the paper's news space, and reductions in staff. (In total, the Times has cut nearly 300 journalists and dropped nearly 70 weekly pages per week in these six years.) According to Times reports, the Tribune Company has also cut $1 million in funding for the paper's foreign operations, resulting in bureau closures in Vienna, Rio de Janeiro and Seoul.

"What began as optimism for the future when the Tribune took over has waned as the years have gone on," said Bryce Nelson, professor of journalism at the University of Southern California's Annenberg School.

Describing the Times as a historically "first-rate newspaper," Nelson cautioned that further cuts, as requested by the Chicago owners, threaten the newsroom's continued ability to produce quality journalism.

"L.A. deserves more than a second-rate newspaper," Nelson added.

City leaders agree and last week they took a stand.

On September 12, 20 of Los Angeles' most influential citizens sent a letter to the Tribune's chief executive officer, Dennis FitzSimons, protesting staff reductions and warning that additional cuts would likely remove the Times from "the top ranks of American journalism." Among those who signed the letter were former U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher and George Kieffer, a distinguished local attorney who chairs the Civic Alliance group that organized and submitted the letter.

Kieffer defined the letter as a cautionary measure intended to forestall additional cutbacks and hopefully register the importance of the Times' to the local community with its Midwest ownership.