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.

Taking 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.

"The Times is a national and regional jewel and we do not want to see that jeopardized," Kieffer said.

Describing the newspaper as "one of the five most important daily papers in the country," the group asserted that "as a community voice in the metropolitan region, the Los Angeles Times is irreplaceable." Instead of more cuts, they urged the Tribune to make an even larger investment in the Times.

"If, on the other hand, the Tribune Company believes this is not economically feasible given its own financial goals, perhaps a different mode of ownership would better serve Los Angeles," the letter said.

Rift Between the Newsroom and Owners

Opposition to Tribune management hasn't come from Times' readers alone. In recent months, tensions have steadily risen between the paper's Chicago-based owners and its Los Angeles-based newsroom.

At the forefront of the strained relationship has been the Tribune's complex partnership with the Chandler family, which sold the Times to the Tribune in 2000 but remains the company's largest shareholder. Adding to the Tribune's troubles has been a staunch resistance to future layoffs by the Times' editor, Dean Baquet, and publisher Jeffrey M. Johnson.

A recent Los Angeles Times article addressed Baquet's dispute with Tribune owners over staff size. He was quoted saying, "To make substantial reductions would significantly damage the quality of the paper."

While it appeared that some of Los Angeles' most influential figures were backed by the newspaper's local management, it remained to be seen what the Tribune Board in Chicago would have to say about their concerns. Nearly a week passed before Fitzsimons' response, which came on Monday and was promptly printed in the opinion-editorial section of the Los Angeles Times Tuesday morning.

Under pressure from some of the most powerful civic leaders in the city, and reportedly faced with several offers by Hollywood's elite -- including, reportedly, music and movie mogul David Geffen -- to purchase the Times, FitzSimons was forced to answer to growing concern regarding the Tribune's operation of the paper.

In the letter, FitzSimons defended the Tribune's administration and pledged his commitment to maintaining the Times' integrity. He did not address whether or not the Tribune has considered any offers to sell the newspaper. Instead, FitzSimons expressed his appreciation for local readers' interest in the Times and echoed their praise of the newspaper's importance in shaping and serving Los Angeles.

"Over the past six years, the Times' leadership team, with Tribune's encouragement and support, has taken a number of significant steps to improve the newspaper, placing more emphasis on coverage of Southern California news, outstanding investigative reporting and expanded coverage of the entertainment industry," FitzSimons wrote.

Addressing the concerns over additional staff cuts, FitzSimons explained that the Times' revenue has actually fallen below where it was when the Tribune obtained it in 2000. But he asserted that the total revenue dedicated to news coverage is currently higher than it was in 1999, before the acquisition.

"In fact, the Los Angeles Times has the largest editorial staff and budget of any metropolitan newspaper in America without nationwide circulation," FitzSimons added.

Notable Names Interested in Buying the Times

FitzSimons also brushed over the issue of corporate versus local ownership, referring to "neither as inherently better." He essentially sidestepped a topic that has attracted a great deal of attention in recent months, especially following reports that several Los Angeles billionaires have made offers to purchase the Times.

Among those who have reportedly expressed their interest are: supermarket mogul Ronald W. Burkle; Eli Broad, founder of builder KB Home and insurer SunAmerica; and Geffen.

When asked about reports that the Tribune has been approached with offers to buy the Los Angeles Times, Gary Weitman, vice president of communications for the Tribune Company, replied, "It our strict company policy not to comment on rumors and speculation about our business."

However, in a Times' article published on July 29, 2006, FitzSimons purportedly responded to prospective buyers in a letter, stating that the board "unanimously asked me to advise you that at this time we are not prepared to discuss the possible transaction".

If the Tribune is taking any offers into consideration, FitzSimons' latest letter gave no indication that the company is thinking about the newspaper's sale.

"We hope you will evaluate the Los Angeles Times and its related websites, not on the ownership structure or the size of their editorial staff or budget, but on how well they serve the community's needs," FitzSimons wrote. "We're confident that by that measure -- or any other -- the Times is, and under Tribune ownership will continue to be, a truly great newspaper."

Ownership and budget disputes aside, maintaining the Times' stature as a valued and quality newspaper seems to be one goal that the Tribune, the Times' newsroom and the paper's readers all share.