home

Robert Scheer Moves From LA Times to Huffpo

By Jeralyn, Section Media
Posted on Fri Nov 11, 2005 at 05:24:37 PM EST
Tags: (all tags)
Share This: Digg! StumbleUpon del.icio.us reddit reddit

Columnist Robert Scheer has been fired from the LA Times after 30 years. He doesn't know why.

The publisher, Jeff Johnson, who has offered not a word of explanation to me, has privately told people that he hated every word that I wrote. I assume that mostly refers to my exposing the lies used by President Bush to justify the invasion of Iraq.

Beginning Wednesday, his column will appear at Huffington Post.

Update: Armando at Daily Kos reports that Jonah Goldberg will be a colunist at the LA Times. What a waste. If this is a sign of where the LA Times is headed, I doubt I'll be checking them as frequently.

< Friday Funnies: Bush Learns to Rap | Alito, Conservative Libertarian and Rush Limbaugh >

  • The Online Magazine with Liberal coverage of crime-related political and injustice news

  • Contribute To TalkLeft


    • Display: Sort:
    Robert Scheer Moves From LA Times to Huffpo | 24 comments (24 topical)
    Re: Robert Scheer Moves From LA Times to Huffpo (none / 0) (#1)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:06:00 PM EST
    deleted

    Re: Robert Scheer Moves From LA Times to Huffpo (none / 0) (#3)
    by Ambiorix on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:06:01 PM EST
    TalkLeft, I have just read the comments following "the fired from the LA Times" at Huffington Post. 66 comments and not a single comment from a lunatic. TalkLeft has at the moment often about half of the comments spewed by lunatics like JimakaPPJ (just to name one of them). Can't you ask the people at Huffington Post, how they manage to do that, and then do that also, so that genuinely interested people don't have to wade through that spew to find some information (or just turn away from TalkLeft altogether). "The Editors, American Federalist Journal" didn't get their nonsens on the Huffington Post blog.

    Re: Robert Scheer Moves From LA Times to Huffpo (none / 0) (#4)
    by desertswine on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:06:01 PM EST
    teafj: that's the most pathetic trolling I've seen in quite some time.

    Re: Robert Scheer Moves From LA Times to Huffpo (none / 0) (#5)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:06:01 PM EST
    Confessions of a Repentant Republican by William Frey, M. D. [long text deleted, this space is for comments. Please see the comment rules. Also, links must be in html format. We fixed this one, but future ones will be deleted.]

    Re: Robert Scheer Moves From LA Times to Huffpo (none / 0) (#6)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:06:01 PM EST
    "Columnist Robert Scheer has been fired from the LA Times after 30 years." He worked for the LA Times for 25 years, and the last five for the Chicago Tribune, which is a Midwest rightwing RAG. A lot of talk right now about the collapse of viewership for newspapers and broadcast television. Over and over again, the muffled media claims that it is because of the Internet. Hell, off the top of my head I can name five friends who read the Tribune Times to get Sheer's column and not much else. Me, that's not enough. I do the Sunday xword, and that's it. The rest of the paper is an ugly propaganda exercise, even without the despicable KKK Ramirez cartoon, which was a gash in the eyeball at that. LA tv has Channel 7, which used to be Disney, but is now run by a conglomerate in Kentucky. Not much the same between Kentucky and California. They also own a station in SF, which is another unlikely market for a Kentucky company. They make money in the market, as the tv station dies for lack of local elements. Chicago LA Times shoots itself in the foot. Read all about it. My prediction? The backlash from readers will bring Sheer back in two weeks. Ramirez won't be that lucky.

    Re: Robert Scheer Moves From LA Times to Huffpo (none / 0) (#7)
    by Linkmeister on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:06:01 PM EST
    If Kos is to be believed, Scheer's place is going to be taken by (wait for it)...Jonah Goldberg. Good thing I'm not a paper subscriber to the LAT; I'd be canceling the subscription tomorrow.

    Re: Robert Scheer Moves From LA Times to Huffpo (none / 0) (#8)
    by bad Jim on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:06:01 PM EST
    At least the Times will be free of the odious Ramirez. We'll miss Scheer's weekly reminders of outrage, but we won't have to avert our eyes from the cartoonist's generous servings of hate. Much as I like Scheer, as a daily reader I'd consider it an improvement.

    Re: Robert Scheer Moves From LA Times to Huffpo (none / 0) (#9)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:06:01 PM EST
    "If Kos is to be believed, Scheer's place is going to be taken by (wait for it)...Jonah Goldberg." Who really wears the Hitler 'stash in that family, eh? The mom, clearly. This after the CLAT added Tony Snow, who ranks among the rank. How many of these boobs can turn a readable opinion section into a drag behind a runaway car? One is plenty -- more than plenty. But with Snow in the mix: Jonah, meet Whale. Not clear who will swallow whom, but for sure LA ain't swallowing any of it.

    Re: Robert Scheer Moves From LA Times to Huffpo (none / 0) (#10)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:06:01 PM EST
    Ambiorix - Hmmm. Free speech only for those you agree with, eh? PIL - BION, the majority of people don't purchase a newspaper for opinion, but for news. The 24 Hour news channels have hurt that market. The Internet has hurt the smaller opinion market. When the local news market is replaced by the Internet, newspapers as we know them will be gone. Time Marches On.

    Re: Robert Scheer Moves From LA Times to Huffpo (none / 0) (#11)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:06:01 PM EST
    For those of us who get the LA Times on paper, the last year or so has been a disaster (as far as the editorial pages goes). They've "redesigned" it a couple of times, trying to look "modern," I guess. I used to read just about everything on it. Now it gets a glance on the way to the sports section. With Goldberg replacing Scheer -- who was pretty much the only progressive voice -- it only gets worse. Its not because I mind viewpoints from the other side, but please, please, please get somebody who actually thinks and doesn't just repeat the Bush talking points. I'll probably still subscribe, because of local coverage -- we don't have many alternatives if you want news with your morning ceral. Oh well.

    Re: Robert Scheer Moves From LA Times to Huffpo (none / 0) (#12)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:06:01 PM EST
    I think if you were in charge of the LAT, and were staring down the barrel of their shrinking circulation, you would want to shake things up as well. Will it work? I don't think so - I think papers are in the process of being disintermediated by the web, and the particular politics of a paper isn't going to change that.

    Re: Robert Scheer Moves From LA Times to Huffpo (none / 0) (#13)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:06:01 PM EST
    Sort of the Fox model for newspapers rabid rightwingers have money and will pay to read (hear) news that supports their views -- my favorite description of Goldberg comes from the better Roger Ailes --"doughy pantload."

    Re: Robert Scheer Moves From LA Times to Huffpo (none / 0) (#14)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:06:01 PM EST
    I guess the golden era of the Times must've been the 70s and 80s. They used to be known as an excellent paper for national and global information. And Paul Conrad. This is just sad, a step backwards to the LA Times of the 20s and 40s.

    Re: Robert Scheer Moves From LA Times to Huffpo (none / 0) (#15)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:06:01 PM EST
    Is this the same guy who so aggressively bloviates on NPR in LA? If so, good riddance. In this day and age, who cares what the LAT's opinion is anyway? All I read it for is the biz, real estate and Sunday magazine sections.

    Re: Robert Scheer Moves From LA Times to Huffpo (none / 0) (#16)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:06:01 PM EST
    Posted by Jim: "BION, the majority of people don't purchase a newspaper for opinion, but for news." That's an odd opinion, Jim. A large local newspaper like the LAT is a SOURCE of opinion. They put it on their front page, and they put it in their opinion pages, and IT IS read and considered. But the CLAT violated that relationship. People I know firsthand were disturbed when LAT became CLAT and suddenly started promoting ideas hostile to Angeleno values, in favor of the rightwing bs popular at the Tribune Company boardmeetings. So people wrote Letters to the Editor, remonstrated, made phone calls, begged everyone in sight, and then GAVE THE F UP, AND CANCELED THEIR SUBSCRIPTIONS. You people ruin companies to serve either your own individual profit (like Enron) or over rabid ideology (like trying to make Disney cancel Gay Days), or over union-busting (like Safeway). And maybe that works in the Hateland of Amerika. But in liberal Los Angeles, it is a losing proposition. Madbrewer, I call on you as a loyal Californian, and as a loyal reader, to call on the CLAT to reinstate Robert Scheer IMMEDIATELY, on penalty of canceled subscription. I will join you with the intention to cancel my Sunday subscription if they do not reinstate him -- NOW. If we don't fight for a readable, popular newspaper, you are going to LOSE your morning read anyhow. The Tribune company has already floated rumors of CLOSING THE NEWSPAPER if readership falls further. Firing Robert Scheer, an institution in Los Angeles, will not stand.

    Re: Robert Scheer Moves From LA Times to Huffpo (none / 0) (#17)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:06:01 PM EST
    Posted by J Pierpont: "This is just sad, a step backwards to the LA Times of the 20s and 40s." Not really. Since the Tribune Company bought it in 2000, they have shoved their rightwing CEO perspective down our throats -- and lost their shirts doing it.
    Mar. 22, 2005 - Variety   Publisher of L.A. Times signing off Peurner takes self-imposed break   NEW YORK -- The Tribune Co. abruptly announced Tuesday that Los Angeles Times publisher John Puerner is departing for a "self-imposed career break" after a five-year run at the helm of the daily. ...Puerner's unexpected exit signaled Tribune's continued frustration over circulation and advertising declines at the L.A. Times. Neither Smith nor Puerner made any mention of a possible new job for Puerner elsewhere within Tribune, which owns a number of other newspapers, including the Chicago Tribune and Newsday. In his own note to employees, Puerner said his exit will end a 26-year career at Tribune. ...Insiders say Tribune is unhappy that the L.A. Times has been unable to boost profits and help Tribune's overall stock, which has been in a perpetual slump. Tribune has applied repeated pressure on the newspaper to reduce editorial costs, including through voluntary and involuntary staff reductions.
    And everything else they could do to RAPE the newspaper rather than admit that rightwingizing the front page HAS BEEN A DISASTER.

    Re: Robert Scheer Moves From LA Times to Huffpo (none / 0) (#18)
    by squeaky on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:06:01 PM EST
    TMB
    Its not because I mind viewpoints from the other side, but please, please, please get somebody who actually thinks and doesn't just repeat the Bush talking points.
    (emphasis mine) I think it has something to do with Apens.

    Re: Robert Scheer Moves From LA Times to Huffpo (none / 0) (#19)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:06:01 PM EST
    Paul, your comment is simply absurd. The last time I looked, the owners of the LAT could hire (and fire) whoever they want. If it doesn't work, and their circulation drops further, then that's the punishment the market doles out. Why aren't you afraid of letting the market work?

    Re: Robert Scheer Moves From LA Times to Huffpo (none / 0) (#20)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:06:01 PM EST
    That last line in my last comment should read: Why are you afraid of letting the market work?

    Re: Robert Scheer Moves From LA Times to Huffpo (none / 0) (#21)
    by squeaky on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:06:01 PM EST
    jr- another 'freudian slip'?
    Paul, your comment is simply absurd....Why aren't you afraid of letting the market work?
    'Svengali' must be losing his grip.

    Re: Robert Scheer Moves From LA Times to Huffpo (none / 0) (#22)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:06:02 PM EST
    Posted by James Robertson: "that's the punishment the market doles out. Why are you afraid of letting the market work?" Well, gee, James, the major newspaper or media outlets in an area are not competing plumbers, ten on a block. Though a major newspaper can be purchased by new owners, it is still partly the 'property' of the locality it serves. It still has a duty to the truth, and to fair business practices. Ownership is not all. Every major newspaper in the country advertizes that it represents the locality, that it is "Our Newspaper." Well, we take them at their word. Also, the stockholders of the Tribune company have a right not to have their share values depreciated by bad business moves. That's not just the market -- it's a fiduciary responsibility for which occasionally CEOs (and publishers) are fired. A newspaper has a duty to serve the city. Trashing that newspaper in the vain attempt to sell propaganda and lies is not healthy for the paper, but it also is an attempt to damage the community. They bought the paper, intending to use it to propagandize S. California to their political views. That's despicable -- and their circulation shows how the market views those changes. But they have a virtual monopoly. We deserve better, and the stockholders deserve better. How come you hate the stockholders? Tribune's stock SUCKS. And the reason why is not the Internet.

    Re: Robert Scheer Moves From LA Times to Huffpo (none / 0) (#23)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:06:03 PM EST
    PIL writes:
    Though a major newspaper can be purchased by new owners, it is still partly the 'property' of the locality it serves.
    That is pure and simple nonsense. The LAT is owned by the stockholders and ran by their management. Any "good" the paper does is purely happenstance and (should be) the result of accurate news reporting. In the final analysis, opinion pieces, op-eds, columns, etc., are nothing but entertainment. As the news reporting has taken on more opinion, most nwewspapers have lost readers. This is a natural consequence of losing market share to a competing medium that is more accurate, cheaper and in tune with the customer's world view. Ask Detroit what happened to big cars with poor gas mileage and low quality.

    Re: Robert Scheer Moves From LA Times to Huffpo (none / 0) (#24)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:06:03 PM EST
    Jim has spoken. He hates newspapers, because he has no sense of community, at all. Then he raises the 'competing medium' idiocy that is CLEARLY debunked by the firing of the Publisher a few months back. Removing the most popular column in the paper for 25 years is not how a paper improves its circulation or its share value. It is an act of IDEOLOGY -- a foreign ideology to Los Angeles. If the KKK bought the LA Times, they would not be free to put burning crosses on their opinion pages, at the whim of management. Not, at least, in the world outside Jim's cave. He's weird -- we FIGHT for our rights, for our communities, for our freedoms. We don't just let vultures come and pick out bones clean. Jim celebrates the fall of Detroit -- a similar fall due to profit-taking by CEOs who shot the industry down while they profited. Same thing in this case. Reinstate Scheer. Down with rightwing media that calls for terrorist attacks on Californian cities, and down with midwest companies run by ideologues who ruin the paper, and then blame the Internet. Where can you get the best crawfish dinners in Baton Rouge? is not the right question, or the right stuff. You wingers are CORRUPT, CORRUPT, CORRUPT.

    Re: Robert Scheer Moves From LA Times to Huffpo (none / 0) (#25)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:06:04 PM EST
    PIL - You are truly funny. First of all, the fall of Detroit happened long before the "superstar CEO" and oversized salaries came on the scene. And it happened for the same reason. The company(ies) involved had no clue as to who the competition was. They tried to say it was Japan, when it was their own dumb actions. High priced low quality products ran head on to high quality low cost products. Guess who won? And who benefited? The public. Detroit cleaned their act up. Same thing will happen in this matter. As for the "community" hogwash, gimme a break. A NEWSPAPER IS A COMMERCIAL FOR PROFIT OPERATION.

    Robert Scheer Moves From LA Times to Huffpo | 24 comments (24 topical)