News-Press publisher steps down

Man who ran the Times Community News division for 17 years cites new company direction.
By Jason Wells

GLENDALE — Tom Johnson, general manager of the Times Community News division, announced his resignation this week little more than two months after assuming the role of publisher of the Glendale News-Press, Burbank Leader, Crescenta Valley Sun and La Cañada Valley Sun.

Johnson said he made the decision to resign last Friday in response to the new direction of the community news division he’s worked for and helped lead for the last 17 years. His resignation was announced in a staff memo on Tuesday at the same time the Los Angeles Times continued with additional rounds of staff cuts.

“You either go in a different direction you don’t believe in, or you go and remember the good things you did and how it showed,” said Johnson, who added he that had no intention of retiring, but had not yet decided on his next move.

In a staff meeting on Wednesday with the newsrooms of all four area papers, John O’Loughlin, president of the Los Angeles Times’ Targeted Media Division, assured employees that the community news division — which includes three other papers in Orange County — was an important part of the company’s portfolio.

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