The Los Angeles Times is Estupido
Axes continue to fall at the Los Angeles Times, a still-great paper but one that's looking more and more like a mash-up of USA Today and The Orange County Register. The resignation of editor Dean Baquet stole the thunder from new publisher David Hiller's announcement earlier this week that he knows how to save the Times: get more Mexican readers.
Except Hiller doesn't call them Mexican, or even the PC term Latino. He calls them Hispanic. Strike uno.
But Hiller insists Hispanics are his Hail Mary. In the above memo, he tells Times staffers that "there is widespread agreement we need a stronger overall Hispanic strategy" and goes on to mention the struggles at Tribune's (the Times' corporate papi) free Spanish-language tabloid, Hoy. He then talks about "better defining our strategy in The Times for reaching the English speaking Hispanic audience."
Even in announcing the hiring of a new editor, Hiller mentions his spic strategy. But what exactly will this strategy entail? LAObserved's Kevin Roderick thinks it might be bilingualism, but I doubt it. Rather, look for a large-scale affirmative action program on the level of the Times' much-vaunted Latino Initiative program in 1998. For those of you not nerdy enough to know, it was a paper-wide effort to do what Hiller will probably propose: hire more Latino writers while making everyone else write more stories about Latinos whether they're deserving or not. "Considering Latinos make up 40 percent of the population in Greater Los Angeles," a press release from the Times boasts, "it's a no-brainer to figure out the 'why' behind this action." The Latino Initiative obviously failed, 'cause here we are again.
Hiller--some words of advice from someone who has read the Times since the days of Malamud and Murray and occasionally writes for it: Latinos will never save your paper if you continue to hack away at the Times' foundation of investigative journalism and wonderful writing. English-speaking Hispanic audiences are no different from English-speaking gabacho audiences. They want good stories; damn the subject or the author (unless there are pictures of sexy chicas, of course).
I don't read most Latino-themed magazines because the writing is horrific; I read your paper's sports section religiously (despite the lack of Latino-themed stories or bylines) because the writing in that section sings. Following the orders of your Chicago overlords to cut back on staff will just alienate more Latino readers--at least the ones that read the Times for something more than the Lakers' box score.
If you insist on making changes: Promote OC bureau writer Jennifer Delson, whose coverage of SanTana is mexcellente. Free Agustín Gurza from his prison in Calendar and give him back his old Ruben Salazar-esque column, which combined compassionate writing with a Latino-centric focus. And, for chrissakes, find a copy editor who knows how to put accent marks and tildes over Spanish words!
But seriously: if you want Latino readers, you'll take care of your paper by taking care of reporters. Great reporters find great Latino stories even if they're super-gabachos. Adopting a full-scale strategy to reach out to an ethnic group reeks of The Orange County Register, and the Times is so much better than that...for now.
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the serrach says:
still great eh? well i'm out. i canceled my subscription (of 15 years or so, gosh has it been that long?) yesterday. now i have to rely on the weekly (way better looking ads) and the google, which is on the internets i hear.
can you drop a copy of your fine paper by my house every thursday morning please? thanks.
Posted on Thursday, Nov. 9 2006 @ 8:11AM
Hispanic Latino, Esq. says:
>"Free Agustín Gurza from his prison in Calendar and give him back his old Ruben Salazar-esque column, which combined compassionate writing with a Latino-centric focus."
God, no. Gurza is fine covering the Marc-Anthony beat in Calendar, but his old column was a knee-jerk drag. A momentary comparison between Gurza and S-Lo should really put the idea to rest.
Posted on Thursday, Nov. 9 2006 @ 8:11AM
Gabriel says:
How about an upgrade of the Los Angeles Times' atrocious coverage and editorials on Latin America? Hector Tobar is the only reporter I can stomach.
That's my biggest gripe...that and the new format :(
Posted on Thursday, Nov. 9 2006 @ 9:11AM
O.C. Mom says:
I usually read the L.A. Times during my work-out every morning. Not anymore.
Unless something changes over there, you can keep your damn paper!
Posted on Thursday, Nov. 9 2006 @ 10:11AM
G. Jones says:
How about that new format, huh? Is that supposed to attract more readers? What a joke. Bring back investigative reporting and forget the fancy headline fonts.
Posted on Thursday, Nov. 9 2006 @ 11:11AM
Comandante Agi says:
I cancelled my subscription about a year ago just when their descent into irrelevance was becoming really noticeable. I guess pissing on the grave of Otis Chandler has become the new pastime here in Southern California.
Posted on Thursday, Nov. 9 2006 @ 11:11AM
Abelardodlp says:
A 40+ year reader, it's hard to give up on the Times. Still not sold on their new design / evolving format, but there's still no better local L.A. paper. And it's there on my driveway every morning when I take out Lil' Ricky and Mr. T to piss and shit on the neighbor's lawn. I think you just want to work for them, Gustavo. I know I would.
Posted on Thursday, Nov. 9 2006 @ 2:11PM
Boycott L.A. Times says:
I had to do a double take when I passed by the newsstand earlier today. I wan't sure if it was the L.A. Times or the National Enquirer.
The format sucks ass... in a big way.
Posted on Thursday, Nov. 9 2006 @ 2:11PM
Gustavo Arellano says:
Nah, Abe: I'm fine with my rag!
Posted on Thursday, Nov. 9 2006 @ 2:11PM
demmother says:
I am still contemplating cancellation.
There is no local coverage.
Posted on Thursday, Nov. 9 2006 @ 7:11PM
Orange County Weekly - The Blotter » The Los Angeles Times is Stupid (Canto MCXVI) says:
[...] It's painful picking up the Los Angeles Times every morning and notice it's getting lighter every week. While they're doing this, however, their Chicago pendejo overseers are spending mucho millions on how to attract more readers. Their supposed salvation: Mexicans. [...]
Posted on Monday, Mar. 5 2007 @ 9:03AM