"If he was removed for taking a stand, does not bode well for our paper...

[DeepModem Mom]

or our industry."

Editor&Publisher: Mood 'Grim' in 'L.A. Times' Newsroom After Johnson Firing
By Joe Strupp
Published: October 05, 2006

NEW YORK -- Los Angeles Times newsrooms staffers, including many who had signed a petition just weeks ago supporting Publisher Jeff Johnson and Editor Dean Baquet's stand against more budget cuts, greeted today's announcement of Johnson's firing with sadness and concern.

(NOTE: Baquet has agreed to stay on as editor of the Times, "at least for now.")

Although some were waiting to see what incoming publisher David Hiller of the Chicago Tribune would do, most took Johnson's forced resignation so shortly after his public stand as a sign that owner Tribune Co. would likely make the cuts that have been in the pipeline.

"The mood is pretty grim, as far as I can see," said Bill Nottingham, a city and county bureau editor. "None of us know all of the back-and-forth between Jeff and Chicago. If he was removed for taking a stand, that does not bode well for our paper or our industry."

Henry Weinstein, a 28-year Times reporter, agreed. "Obviously we are very distressed that our publisher has been forced to resign, we think that is a regrettable decision," he said. "There is nobody here who is happy about this."...

***

William Rempel, who has spent more than 30 years at the Times, said "resentment runs deep and wide." He added that the move has increased anger against Tribune Co.: "There is no one in the building who has any confidence in Tribune management to do what is right for our newspaper or for journalism. It is punishment for Jeff for speaking truth to management and doing it publicly."...

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003221159