Another Los Angeles Times Editorial Departure

From: Hanrahan, Brian
Sent: Saturday, October 12, 2013 12:12 AM
To: yyeditall
Subject: Good night and good luck



Friday was my last day at the L.A. Times. Later this month I'll start my new job at CBSLA. It’s a move that wouldn’t have been possible without all that you and your predecessors have taught me over the past 23 years.

Whatever skills I have at this craft had to be learned: in school, at the other papers I’ve worked for, and, of course, from all the copy editors, reporters, News Service editors, line editors, photographers, videographers, page designers, Web producers, graphic artists, SEO specialists and social media experts here. (Extra credit to all the IT people who aided me tonight when my NewsGate crashed, idling me for more than two hours. Fixing NewsGate? Now there’s a thankless job.)

I also learned from the folks in the composing room (oh, just Google it, kids), which raises a question: As our industry keeps tossing job categories and people overboard, who's left to do the teaching? You can't learn much from an empty chair. Those empty chairs don't produce much of a product, either.

There’s much for me to learn at my next job. For one, I’ll have to get better at social media. I now have a Twitter account -- @BrianH3000 -- and you can find me on LinkedIn, too. It might be awhile before I can figure out FaceTwerk, Tumbo, FourSpeare, Pinter and all the others.

As for what’s next -- well, one of the cool things about CBSLA is that they’ve given me a ride and a uniform. You gotta like people who recognize your true potential.

Brian

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