Los Angeles Times Watch: GrazerGate FLAP Part II
Andrés Martinez, left, resigned as Los Angeles Times editorial page editor, saying he had been undermined by his publisher, David Hiller.
New York Times: Los Angeles Times Editorial Page Chief Quits
Andrés Martinez, the editorial page editor of The Los Angeles Times, resigned yesterday, saying he had been undermined by his publisher over what Mr. Martinez described as a “perception of a conflict of interest.â€
Mr. Martinez had helped select Brian Grazer, a Hollywood producer, as guest editor of a special edition of this Sunday’s opinion section, called Current. The paper reported yesterday that Mr. Martinez is in a romantic relationship with Kelly Mullens, a senior executive at the public relations firm that represents Mr. Grazer’s production company.
The publisher, David Hiller, initially said he did not see a conflict, only the appearance of a conflict that could be handled with an editor’s note disclosing the relationship, said James O’Shea, the paper’s editor. But Mr. Hiller changed his mind yesterday after several staff members expressed their concern to Mr. O’Shea, and Mr. O’Shea spoke with Mr. Hiller. Yesterday, Mr. Hiller canceled the special edition.
In a statement last night, Mr. Hiller said that “a potential conflict of interest had emerged†over Mr. Martinez’s relationship with Ms. Mullens. “We believe that this relationship did not influence the selection of Brian as guest editor,†he said. “Nonetheless, in order to avoid even the appearance of conflict, we felt the best course of action was not to publish the section.â€
When informed of the decision, Mr. Martinez resigned and took the unusual step of announcing his decision on a blog on the paper’s Web site. In a defiant note, he wrote that the paper had overreacted, that Mr. Grazer and Ms. Mullens “did nothing wrong†and that Mr. Hiller’s decision made his tenure “untenable.â€
There is the story and the FLAP which is a precis from yesterday’s post.
Now, Andres Martinez STRIKES BACK.
He blames not himself for an ethical gaffe but newsroom reporters who tattle-tailed. These reporters (and Martinez does name names) want the newsroom to influence the editorial pages.
Go figure.
Hell, the Los Angeles Times news stories have been biased and opinionated for years.
The difference here?
Someone from Spring Street finally spills the beans – so to speak.
Hugh Hewitt refers to the HYPOCRISY of former Los Angeles Times Editor, John Carroll.
Flap smiles with the vindicative countenance of a pseudo-journalist.
Indeed.
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Los Angeles Times Watch: Andres Martinez Quits Over GrazerGate FLAP
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