Shape of Things to Come
The LA Times has made the head of Digital , the Editor in Chief. Publisher David Hiller said that was the right choice.
He told the Times in an interview for its Web site that Stanton, 49, was selected over two other top candidates because he could “best lead change in the newsroom.” Also in the running for the job were Jim Newton, the Times editorial page editor, and Managing Editor John Arthur.
“We are literally in a battle to save the future of this great newspaper and we have to change to survive and thrive in the new world,” Hiller said in the Times interview.
I think this is a good idea. The future of the four or five national newspaper brands (New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, L.A. Times, USA Today) lies in their online properies. The ability to bring their reputation for quality and trust to an incresingly chaotic web infosphere, will reward their shareholders in the end. Their willingness to offer premission-based behavioral advertising will raise their on line ad revenues. This is the first sign that Sam Zell “gets it”.
I don’t understand the financial math between a digital newpaper and a print version–although in my own behavior I now read the NY Times own line for free whereas for 40 years I read the print version daily and paid for it and home delivery!!—doug
Exactly what innovations has he produced thus far? Because the last year at latimes.com isn’t exactly a great resume. Zell’s tenure thus far seems to believe in the newspapers cutting their way to success, just like previous owners. I’m willing to believe he’ll be good in the long run for LAT, I just haven’t seen any evidence of that yet. I’m curious how this shows anything otherwise.
Chris-I think the digital edition of the LA Times is getting better all the time. Much more video and in house blogs.
The only point I was trying to make was that by choosing the digital guy, you are at least telling the staff that this is our future.