Chicago – The Tribune Co. ousted Jeffrey Johnson, publisher of its largest newspaper, the Los Angeles Times, on Thursday after Johnson refused to make what he considered potentially damaging staff cuts ordered by the conglomerate.
The parent company named David Hiller, who has been publisher of the Chicago Tribune, to succeed Johnson.
The move follows a publicized show of defiance last month by Johnson and Times editor Dean Baquet against the latest proposed Tribune cuts, which drew the ire not only of Times staffers but also that of some of Tribune’s 10 other daily newspapers.
Scott Smith, president of the Tribune Publishing division in charge of the newspapers, said he and Johnson had agreed on the change “because Tribune and Times executives need to be aligned on how to shape our future.”
It was unclear whether the action means Tribune, which plans restructuring, is determined to keep the paper or put Hiller in to cut costs and make it more attractive in a sale.
