Times' new editor puts focus on paper's future

On his first day as editor of the Los Angeles Times, James E. O'Shea pledged to the newspaper's staff Monday that he would fight to ensure that "this paper will remain a major force in American journalism."

The former Chicago Tribune managing editor acknowledged that he was stepping into a difficult situation — following popular Editor Dean Baquet, who was ousted last week after battling staff cuts proposed by Tribune Co., The Times' Chicago-based corporate parent.