'L.A Times' Editor Draws Positive Nods -- Amid Uncertainty

By: Joe Strupp Today's appointment of Russ Stanton as editor of the Los Angeles Times drew mostly favorable reactions from current and former Times staffers. But the fact that Stanton becomes the fourth top editor at the paper in less than three years left few with a strong sense of security in the top editor's post.

"There is a great deal of turbulence, we don?t know how long any of these people are going to last," said Henry Weinstein, a 29-year Times reporter. "It is very hard to predict."

Still, Weinstein welcomed the appointment of Stanton, the paper's innovation editor and former business editor. "I think he has a good reputation for working with colleagues," Weinstein said. "It was widely expected. He has been working in an area that put him in touch with the publisher."

Bill Nottingham, city-county bureau editor, also had positive views of Stanton. "I am hopeful for Russ," he said. "I know he'll do the best job possible."

But, he added, "we've had a long tradition of outstanding editors at this paper. Russ may become one. He doesn't quite have that track record." He noted that Stanton's predecessors, including Dean Baquet, Michael Parks and John Carroll, had all won Pulitzer Prizes.

"He is keenly aware of the need for improving our Web presence," Nottingham added. "But it is still unclear if he will be given the tools to lift our Web presence."

Columnist Steve Lopez said he didn?t know Stanton well, "but people whose opinion I respect who do know him have nothing but praise for him. What can we do but get behind him and hope that this works out." Added Lopez, "He's a huge Dodger fan, which means he's an optimist."

Carroll, who left the paper in 2005 after five years as top editor, recalled appointing Stanton as business editor just before his departure. "We thought well of him because we considered the business editor an important job," Carroll said. "We wouldn't have appointed him if we didn?t think highly of him."

Asked about the Times' future given that Stanton is the fourth editor in less than three years and that the paper recently announced plans to cut more than 100 positions, Carroll said, "It is not good, but not surprising."

Carroll said he had recently visited Los Angeles and spent time with some newsroom staffers. "There is a whole lot of uncertainty," he said. "A lot of worry. But they are dedicated folks."