L.A. Times are a-changin'

What a mess over at the Los Angles Times. Producer Brian Grazer had been asked by the opinion page editor of the Los Angeles Times to guest edit this Sunday’s Times opinion section until the whole project blew up over charges of perceived conflict of interest -- turns out said opinion page editor, who probably needs to screen “Sweet Smell of Success,” had gotten quite literally into bed with a publicist with a link to Grazer. THR’s Carl DiOrio offers a cogent report on the whole affair here. Sensing chum in the troubled waters around the Times’ Spring Street fortress, the blogosphere is already piling on. So rather than dive in, how about considering just this one question -- why does any publication with a corps of editors need a guest editor in the first place? The L.A. Times didn’t dream up this idea all by itself. Back in the ‘80s, Tina Brown rattled staff feathers at the New Yorker when she invited Roseanne Barr to edit an issue. And more recently Vanity Fair’s Greydon Carter has invited Bono to guest edit an upcoming issue of that glossy mag -- no complaints, yet, on that choice, though, since it’s a truth universally acknowledged that Bono is a veritable secular saint. Still, let’s be honest -- no matter how interesting the articles are that a Roseanne or Bono or Grazer manages to wrangle, they are all being extended such invitations because of the publicity value involved. So maybe it’s time to put on the brakes. How’s this proposal? The L.A. Times shouldn’t invite another Hollywood figure to guest edit a section until one of the studios hires critic Kenny Turan to guest direct a movie. That seems a more equitable quid pro quo. (posted by Gregg Kilday)

Comments

[Fred Zimmerman]

All publications have guest writers sometimes. What's wrong with guest editors? As you suggest, it can be an effective publicity stunt (that is, when it's not blowing up in your face ... )

[SeaShark]

Staff morale at the Los Angeles Times isn't low enough after ownership changes, massive layoffs and the alleged forced departure of a respected editor and other reputable top managers? The paper's opinion page editor decides to "jump the shark" and invite Brian Grazer to edit this Sunday's opinion page after reportedly boinking a publicist with a link to Grazer? L.A. Times career professional journalists must be even more disheartened to see stunt casting chip away at the paper's eroding reputation.

Brian Grazer is an intelligent, aware, informed, thoughtful person. I would love to see him guest edit an issue of PEOPLE or VANITY FAIR or MOTOR TREND or ISLANDS. The Los Angeles Times, however, a newspaper that still ostensibly wants to be perceived as an accurate, reputable, important national newspaper that matters, cannot entrust the opinion page to celebrity amateurs, especially now that the sticky sheets truth is out there.

The L.A. Times deserves better.

[SeaShark]

The Los Angeles Times needs a new opinion page editor, not a movie mogul guest editor.

Staff morale at the Times, fragile after an ownership change, the forced departure of a respected editor and other top managers, and massive layoffs, takes another hit with news that the opinion page editor invited Hollywood producer Brian Grazer to guest edit Sunday's page after said editor bedded a publicist with a link to Grazer.

Brian Grazer is an intelligent, informed, worldly, thoughtful person. I would love to see him guest edit an issue of VANITY FAIR or MOTOR TREND or COASTAL LIVING or TRADITIONAL HOME or any other lifestyle publication that compliments his life and work.

The Los Angeles Times, however, still ostensibly purports to be a serious, accurate, relevant, significant national newspaper that matters. The Times must therefore be entrusted to experienced journalism professionals, not the current risky business opinion page editor or celebrity amateurs. Especially now that the sticky sheets truth is out there.

The Times and its readers deserve the best.