Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Los Angeles Times Grapevine


Most organizations have a grapevine, where news travels rather quickly from employee to employee, here at the Los Angeles Times news travels rather quickly from each of the separate locations that produce the newspaper.

If you have followed the story about the Santa Barbara News-Press, you know that they experienced an exodus of many long time writers in a show of support for one another. And the writers that remain at the newspaper are organizing for union representation.

In a show of solidarity, many writers and editors at the Los Angeles Times have vowed to resign if Jeff Johnson (Publisher) and Dean Baquet (Senior Editor) are dismissed over the flap of laying off additional staff, and refusing to do so.

Not sure how many subscribers would abandon their subscriptions to the Los Angeles Times as well, but there will be a major impact needless to say if these two men are fired.

Lets hope both sides can start some type of dialog to resolve their differences, before the bottom falls out.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I wonder what would happen if a LAT operations manager did not do what Mark Kurtich or Jeff Johnson requested? I suspect that they might be fired quicker than you can say insubordination.

I wonder what is going to happen to Mr. Baquet and Mr. Johnson. Does Tribune have a choice?

Do the inmates run the asylum (regardless of their job title) or does the CEO and the board of directors? I guess time will tell!!!!

Anonymous said...

I am curious how other employees feel about this. As an employee, I want to show support to our publisher, who is actually trying to improve our paper, not just slash the bottom line. Does anybody else think that if Jeff Johnson is fired, there will be a mutiny, or slowdowns, or other protests?

Edward Padgett said...

I have heard the opinions of many co-workers on this matter, many are pleased that someone made a stand.

Yet, many are asking "Why hasn't anyone said a word about the downsizing in Operations?"

There will be no slowdown in Operations at the Olympic or Orange County Facilities over the firing of the publisher and editor this Thursday.

Anonymous said...

When the movie hits, I think Robin Williams should play Fitzsimons, Denzel Washinton would make a good Baquet and Randy Quaid for Johnson. These are my second choices as Larry, Moe and Curly are not longer available.

-Outsider