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Top 'LA Times' Editor Pushed Out Amid Newsroom Unrest

Lewis D'Vorkin, the embattled editor in chief of The Los Angeles Times, is being replaced by veteran Chicago journalist Jim Kirk in a dramatic shakeup at the newspaper that follows weeks of tumult in the newsroom.

The newspaper's parent, Chicago-based Tronc, confirmed the move late Sunday. Kirk, 52, who joined Tronc in August, is a former editor and publisher of The Chicago Sun-Times who briefly served as interim editor at the Times ahead of D'Vorkin's appointment less than five months ago.

D'Vorkin, 65, will become Tronc's chief content officer.

Jim Kirk, who replaced D'Vorkin as editor in chief at the <em>Times</em>, in a photo from last year.
Charles Rex Arbogast / AP
/
AP
Jim Kirk, who replaced D'Vorkin as editor in chief at the Times, in a photo from last year.

As NPR's David Folkenflik reports, "These moves follow intense newsroom anger over D'Vorkin's [handling] of the paper's coverage of Disney; amorphous plans to supplement Los Angeles Times and Tronc content with non-newsroom writers and content partners; and D'Vorkin's obsessive reaction to newsroom leaks and controversies."

Previously, while chief product officer at Forbes, D'Vorkin sought to open up advertising streams by allowing advertisers to contribute material alongside the magazine's own articles, according to The New York Times.

Further, The Los Angeles Times reports that the newly unionized newsroom, "has become alarmed by the hiring in recent months of several news executives who report to business executives — not editors in the newsroom. But those hires have not been announced to the newsroom, sparking suspicion about the company's motives for the new team."

Last August, the newspaper's executive editor and publisher, Davan Maharaj and his deputy, Marc Duvoisin, were abruptly fired following the arrival of a new publisher and CEO, Ross Levinsohn.

D'Vorkin's standing was also undermined by NPR's investigation earlier this month of his patron and former business partner Levinsohn.

Levinsohn is now on leave and under review by Tronc after NPR uncovered a pattern of accusations of workplace misconduct, including two sexual harassment lawsuits in which he was a defendant. Levinsohn called the accusations "lies" in a phone call with NPR CEO Jarl Mohn.

D'Vorkin was also criticized for his handling of a dispute between Times journalists and the Walt Disney Company, who banned its reporters from attending advance screenings of films after the Times published an investigative series alleging that Disney got favorable deals from the city of Anaheim, where Disneyland Park is located.

Tronc is also expected to announce new newsroom leadership for the New York Daily News. Its managing editor, Robert Moore, and top Sunday editor, Alex "Doc" Jones, were placed under investigation after NPR's inquiry about a detailed harassment complaint was filed against Moore in late December. That inquiry led to the investigation of Moore and ultimately Jones, as other complaints surfaced against both men, according to current and former Daily News staffers.

Moore remains on the job; however, according to multiple newsroom sources contacted by NPR, Jones has been suspended.

Editor's Note: A reference to the delayed publication of an LA Times investigative project was removed for clarity after additional reporting.

Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

Scott Neuman is a reporter and editor, working mainly on breaking news for NPR's digital and radio platforms.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

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Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from Connecticut Public, the state’s local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

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