Not Your Grandma's LA Times

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It was bound to happen.

After months of bad-mouthing the once-great Los Angeles Times since he acquired control of it last year, real estate magnate Sam Zell has implemented rounds of layoffs and firings and issued statements indicating he intends to transform it into something closer to a tabloid.

Finally, Zell has been beaten to the punch by a bunch of local writers and editors who are fed up and not going to take it anymore

Welcome to (Not the) Los Angeles Times, an unsubtle parody of Zell’s vision. “State Sells San Diego to Erase Budget Deficit” is the lead story, with this sub-headline: “EBay auction tops $9 billion as Indian casinos, Google and Al Qaeda bid on city.”

Then, there is this caption to the lead photo:

The King and his girlfriend, who is now missing.

Burger King mascot arrested

Cops blame creepy fast food character for a string of homicides.

Tags: Los Angeles Times, Food, Food & Beverage, Manufacturing, David Weir

In addition to serving as a BNET Media analyst/blogger, David Weir is a veteran journalist and the author of several books. Weir is a co-founder and vice-president of the Center for Investigative Reporting, as well as an editorial board member of The Nation.

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1

danogram

07/29/08 | Report as spam

Not Your Grandma's LA Times

Just thinking.

For my money, and compressed time schedule, I find a limited number of sources for news that's affordable. I mean, just the facts. When the facts are selected and crafted to make a news story fit a template someone wants me to follow, I simply don't have the time to wonder why they are stating what they are stating in the way that they are stating those selected and parsed ?facts?. I want to read/hear/see what you want to tell me AND why you want to tell me, up front and honestly. I'll decide if you're wasting my time... and I won't be back if you are.

You've pointed to 2 possible directions for the LA Times to head for value; tabloid or comedy. All too often they have practiced both under the guise of serious news reporting. I don't think this has been entirely lost on Sam Zell.
2

hotweir

07/30/08 | Report as spam

RE: Not Your Grandma's LA Times

Far as I'm concerned my job is to gather the news about the news biz and let y'all decide what it means...
3

danogram

07/30/08 | Report as spam

RE: Not Your Grandma's LA Times

"Far as I'm concerned my job is to gather the news about the news biz and let y'all decide what it means..."

Thanks, David.

Long as that remains so, I'll be back. It has and I am."
4

optifex

12/04/08 | Report as spam

RE: Not Your Grandma's LA Times

I was hopeful that the LA Times was getting better, based on their output the year before that. It seems this was not the case.
5

steelewoolridge

12/25/08 | Report as spam

RE: Not Your Grandma's LA Times

They gotta do what they gotta do to get readership, which is all the advertisers care about.