Kinsley Spikes His First Editorial at 'L.A. Times'

By: E & P Staff Michael Kinsley is off to a slow start as editorial writer at the Los Angeles Times.

Recently named editorial page editor at the paper, he had his first editorial killed this week. At least he spiked it himself.

Its rather dicey subject: the decapitation death of Hollywood screenwriter Robert Lees. Apparently other editorial writers at the paper suggested he reconsider the piece. Kinsley also showed it to Editor John Carroll, who urged him not to run it, according to the Web site L.A. Observed, which tracks doings at the paper..

In an email to the Web site, Kinsley confirmed the episode: "I wrote the editorial then killed it myself. It was an attempt at ironic reflection on the Hollywood decapitation. My editorial page colleagues convinced me it was inappropriate as an editorial. I agonized quite a bit, although looking back the next day, it was a clear case of 'what on earth was I thinking?'"