Jeff Johnson takes over LA Times as publisher. Who is he?

[Liberty Belle]

LAT PUBLISHER DROPS OUT (L.A. OBSERVED)

Times publisher John Puerner, who has had his share of battles with the Tribune bosses in Chicago, is leaving. No nice landing, no nothing. The new publisher is Jeff Johnson, who has been executive vice president and general manager. NYT: Puerner told staff he had decided to leave "to take a self-imposed career break."

http://www.laobserved.com/archive/003258.html
http://nytimes.com/2005/03/23/business/media/23paper.html


Can anyone shed light on this guy? Is this a conservative takeover of the LA Times?

[liveoaktx]

1. Appears to me like Bottom Line over Journalism

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000847753

...
The newspaper observed on Wednesday: "The management shift at The Times comes on the heels of a change at Tribune Co. late last year, when longtime newspaperman, novelist and journalism commentator Jack Fuller was replaced as head of the company's publishing group by Scott Smith, who has a background in strategic planning, acquisitions and investment.

"Similarly, the shift from Puerner to Johnson in Los Angeles marks the ascension of a publisher whose primary training was in business, rather than one who began with an interest in journalism. Puerner had worked for his college paper at the University of Colorado, and enjoyed telling audiences that he had only pursued a business degree as a way of working in a business that he loved -- newspapers."
.....

[Cleita]

2. That's too bad. I guess I won't be reading the LA Times

anymore. I noticed a definite turn to the right when they started running articles by Max Boot and other wingnuts, as well as political cartoons by Michael Ramirez, but at least they tried to get certified liberals on their editorial pages as well as covering all the news, not just cherry picking it to make George look good. So, I guess that leaves us with the San Francisco Chronicle, which I understand has also had a change of ownership.

[Liberty Belle]

4. The Chronicle, too? We're doomed.

[ronnykmarshall]

3. Ohhhhh you can call J

or can call me Jeff or can call me JJ

But ya don'ts have to call me Johnson!