Letter to publisher of LA Times on Firing Robert Scheer

[yurbud]

Amy Goodman covered this on Democracy Now. Apparently, the Times has already gotten thousands of letters about this. They need some more.

I sent this and similar ones to the editorial page editors and the readers rep.

You can find their contact info here:

http://www.latimes.com/services/site/la-contactus,0,3944908.htmlstory

November 14, 2005


Jeffrey M. Johnson
Publisher and CEO
Los Angeles Times
202 W. 1st St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Mr. Johnson,

I was sorry to see that you fired Robert Scheer without explanation.

His column was factually accurate and had the courage to go after essential stories on the Iraq War that news editors ignored even though they would sell papers and were essential to the press serving it’s government watchdog function.

Now that you have removed one of the few sources of actual news in your newspaper, I’m through buying the LA Times. There’s a newsstand down the street that sells the San Francisco papers, the San Jose Mercury News, and the Sacramento Bee.

I’m sure you’ll be big success as publisher if you continue to censor popular columnists and ignore the wishes of your audience.

The political mood in this country is changing, and in a year or two, Congress and regulatory agencies will not look as kindly on media consolidation, especially when it has been used to strangle debate.

Why don’t you take your money and invest in sweatshops or selling cigarettes to kids where your lack of conscience would be an asset.

[xxqqqzme]

1. very good

I'd write but I never bought the LAT anyway.

[David Zephyr]

2. Thanks.

I called them already. Sad that they sacrificed Scheer at the altar of Ramirez.

[99Pancakes]

3. That's a great letter

As I've posted before, the LA Times has moved right (wrong). It's spooky. I think I'll suggest they change their name to The Orange County Times. More appropriate.

[yurbud]

4. Sadly, they think it'll change opinions, but they'll just cut circulation

[katty]

6. Exactly

[katty]

5. just called Trib Co in Chicago/Editorial about Scheer firing

an actual person, not VM is taking comments-had to listen to my comments, seemed quite annoyed, too bad.

[yurbud]

7. got a phone number?