As expected, the LAT staff isn’t taking the news of their highly respected editor’s firing very well. "I have been here 28 and a half years and this is the single worst moment in that time," said staff writer Henry Weinstein. "The fact that the newsroom is not making enough money to please some guy on Wall Street is not the reason to get rid of an editor."

Since Tribune Co. bought the LAT in 2000 staffers have been unhappy with changes that have been made, extreme staff cuts, and the direction of the paper. But newsroom morale may hit an all time low now with Baquet gone. By seemingly deliberately demoralizing the staff of its most prominent paper, it makes one wonder what the Tribune Co.’s plans are for the already struggling LAT.

There is some speculation that this may cause bigger problems at the LAT potentially putting more pressure on Tribune Co. to sell the paper to one of the interested local buyers. Staff members are saying that Baquet was thinking about having lunch with one potential buyer, LA billionaire David Geffen, sometime next week. "The hope of some in the newsroom is that Mr. Geffen, or someone, buys the paper and rehires Mr. Baquet as editor," said staff members.   

In related news, Philadelphia Inquirer editor Amanda Bennett has stepped been asked to step down by new owners. The staff is sad to see Bennett go but hopeful that the new editor might be able to pull the paper out if its slump. Seeing as Bennett was equally as respected as Baquet in her own newsroom could the same problems at the LAT occur in Philadelphia?

Source:Editor & Publisher, The New York Times