US: LAT editor-in-chief fired

Posted by John Burke on November 8, 2006 at 11:12 AM

Little more than a month after losing its publisher, the Los Angeles Times is saying goodbye to its editor-in-chief, Dan Baquet. Former publisher Jeffrey M. Johnson and Baquet publicly denounced the idea of cutting more newsroom staff at the Tribune Co. owned paper. After Johnson's firing, Baquet was pinned to stay for the long haul, but apparently differences with new publisher David Hiller could not be resolved.

Announcement of Baquet's ouster came as a shock to the newsroom on a busy election day. Most were sad to see him go and hoped that if the paper is purchased by a private investor, as is speculated, that he will be invited back.

Baquet's firing comes at a precarious time for LAT. On top of rapidly losing circulation, the paper is trying to reform itself through research it calls the Manhattan Project.

Managing editor of the Chicago Tribune James O'Shea will replace Baquet at the helm.

Source: New York Times

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