LAT Readers' Representative Journal

From Jim O'Shea Editor Los Angeles Times

To the staff,

Numerous studies have tied declining public confidence in journalists to the news industry's lack of openness about how and why we make decisions about the stories we cover. As a result, The Times today is unveiling the Readers' Representative Journal (latimes.com/readersrep), hosted by Jamie Gold. In the journal, Jamie and assistant readers' rep Kent Zelas will coordinate with editors and reporters to wrestle with some of the same issues the readers' representative office has dealt with since it started in 1999, including questions and answers on how The Times covers particular stories. The journal, which grew out of the recommendations of the Reinvent Committee, is an important step in making our newspaper a more open civic institution that explains itself better to readers. It will give readers and staff members a fair and open venue to professionally discuss many of the issues that flow from the stories we cover. It also will contain information about The Times, including our ethics guidelines and frequently asked questions about practices followed at The Times and other newspapers.

Please give Jamie and Kent your full support as they undertake this new, stimulating challenge.

The press release is below for your reference.

Regards,
Jim