LA Times editor fired!!!

From the New York Times:

Editor Is Forced Out at Los Angeles Times

By KATHARINE Q. SEELYE
Published: November 7, 2006
Dean Baquet, the editor of The Los Angeles Times, who refused to go along with staff cutbacks ordered by its owner, the Tribune Company, was forced out of his job today.
Al Seib/Los Angeles Times, via Associated Press

Mr. Baquet will be replaced as editor by James O’Shea, who is currently managing editor of the Tribune Company’s Chicago Tribune, The Los Angeles Times reported on its Web site. It said Mr. O’Shea was expected to take over the post on Monday.

The departure of Mr. Baquet follows that of the publisher, Jeffrey M. Johnson, who had joined him in openly objecting to the cuts sought by the Tribune Company and who was fired last month. Mr. Baquet has said that he did not leave in solidarity with Mr. Johnson at the time because he thought he could work with the new publisher, David Hiller, who was installed in Mr. Johnson’s place.

The Los Angeles Times said in an article on its Web site that Mr. Baquet told reporters and editors at the paper that he did not know whether the newsroom staff would be cut. But the article said newsroom executives expected substantial cutbacks, probably by next year.
Mr. Baquet and Mr. Hiller were in preliminary discussions about staffing levels when Mr. Baquet gave a speech late last month in New Orleans in which he encouraged editors at other newspapers to “push back” more against owners who wanted to reduce the size of newsrooms.
Mr. Hiller was angered and disappointed at the New Orleans speech, according to people at the newspaper, especially as he and Mr. Baquet were trying to reach an accommodation over the budget for The Los Angeles Times.

Neither Mr. Baquet nor Mr. Hiller could be reached immediately for comment.

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