Jeff JohnsonPublisher Los Angeles Times
Dean Baquet at right side
Editor Los Angeles Times
After almost six years of lagging circulation at the Los Angeles Times, the downward trend has reversed itself and is moving in the right direction. Under the leadership of Jeff Johnson and Dean Baquet the Los Angeles Times has evolved to attract more subscribers, which in turn attracts additional advertisers.
The two men have placed their careers on the line by refusing to downsize the editorial department, as ordered by the CEO Dennis FitzSimons.
I would not want to be in Mr. FitzSimons shoes at this moment, if he does nothing it will be viewed as a loss of control of the company, if he terminates the two it will be a great loss for the newspaper, and further the decline in employee moral.
My question for the readers here, how would you resolve this situation if you were the CEO?
Edward
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6 comments:
Since Fitzsimmons has had a lot of compliance from all levels in the past that as resulted in reducing the Times to its current state, he should pause when they finally say "No."
Fitzsimmons need to focus on building the Times into a better paper. Removing financial resources does not help to develop a superior product. Reducing staff is not going to change Wall Streets outlook on TRB , it hasnt in the past. I hope we do not end up with the same situation going on at the Santa Barbara news press. Fitsimmons swallow your pride and move on .
Mr. FitzSimons has reached a point, with the Tribune Company, where it would better serve the company, employees, and the public if he took an early retirement.
The current situation at the Los Angeles Times is a no win situation. Damn if he does, damned if he doesn't.
It time for some fresh ideas and new leadership for the Tribune Company.
Why do individual's become CEOs? It's not the money. It's not to promote humanitarian efforts. It's not even the satisfaction of guiding a company to success. It's the power.
It will be interesting to see what transpires whith this challenge of authority. The soap opera just keeps getting better and better.
Outsider
The Los Angeles Times needs more resources, not cut backs, to become a better, more profitable paper.
Perhaps a "hostile" takeover by friends and Chanlder family will put this ship in the waters where it so desparately needs to sail...just a thought.
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