LAObserved.com
Former Los Angeles Times editor
James O'Shea writes in his farewell memo:
* "I disagree completely with the way that this company allocates resources to its newsrooms, not just here but at Tribune newspapers all around the country. ... I think the current system relies too heavily on voodoo economics and not enough on the creativity and resourcefulness of journalists."
* "The biggest challenge we face -- journalists and dedicated newspaper folks alike -- is to overcome this pervasive culture of defeat, the psychology of surrender that accepts decline as inevitable. This mindset plagues our business and threatens our newspapers and livelihoods."
* "We need to tell readers more about
Barack Obama and less about
Britney Spears."
* "I think
Steve Lopez is the best daily newspaper columnist in the nation, one of a few that I would compare favorably to
Mike Royko. And that's saying a lot for someone from Chicago."
* "When you don't agree with the future course of the newspaper it's best to simply move on. There are plenty of other challenges out there for me and I don't intend to sit around idle. There are bike rides to be had, books to write and hopefully another opportunity or two to make a difference."
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