Quoted
britney or barack, six of one, half dozen of the other
The current system relies too heavily on voodoo economics and not enough on the creativity and resourcefulness of journalists. … This company, indeed, this industry, must invest more in solid, relevant journalism. We must integrate the speed and agility of the Internet with the news judgment and editorial values of the newsroom, values that are more important than ever as the hunger for news continues to surge and gossip pollutes the information atmosphere. … We need to tell readers more about Barack Obama and less about Britney Spears.
-Former L.A. Times editor Jim O'Shea's departing memo, via L.A. Observed
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Editorial Director
The LA Times is caught in an identity crunch, regardless of the economic quagmire that all hard copy journalism is finding these days. Yes, it can strive to be a national paper with substantial newsworthy stories, but it DOES have to cover it's city/local news also and the main news comes out of its main industry, which is the Entertainment Industry. Many times/most times, it's make it or break it appeal lies with the actors, who do have private lives and, because of the internet and access to them via the paparazzi, cell phone cameras etc….their personal lives are plastered all over everyone's consciousness. Therefore, does the LA Times ignore what shlock news/gossip everyone else is reporting or does it try to take the high road and not report this stuff and no one reads it? Or, does it also cover this stuff and risk the consequences of being deemed a fluff paper? It's a tightrope that it walks.