John Arthur to leave The Times

Editor Russ Stanton sent the following to the staff just after the announcement of masthead changes:

Colleagues:

Executive Editor John Arthur will be the leaving The Times after a distinguished 23 years here.

John and I did not agree on the need for the just-announced masthead changes, and we differ on the best approach to reaching our goals.

This decision was a difficult one. John has served in a host of leadership roles at The Times that have included assistant city editor in the Orange County edition, assistant national editor, editor of the Valley edition and managing editor with responsibility for the three regional editions as well as the national edition.

He later served as deputy Page 1 editor/nights, Page 1 editor, managing editor and, most recently, executive editor.

His numerous accomplishments include helping direct coverage of the Northridge earthquake and the North Hollywood bank shootout, for which the Times won Pulitzer Prizes in the breaking-news category.

John has served this newsroom -- and our readers -- with pride and distinction, and for that owe him our gratitude and our best wishes.

Comments

[LAT Reader]

I can't believe you people are letting John Arthur go. What a way to squander your talent and institutional memory. To the extent that the LAT is still even glanced at as a national paper, it's because of Arthur and the handful of oher serious-minded, experienced editors who have hung in and continued to act in the public interest despite several years now of financial bloodletting and distraction. Readers may not him by name, but starting tomorrow, they are really really really gonna notice his absence. What a loss for Los Angeles.

[Tony Marcano]

John Arthur has nurtured countless careers, my own included. He is exactly the kind of editor this business needs, because he's all about the journalism. No gimmicks, no tricks, no shortcuts, no pandering, no petulance. He can be tough without being a jerk. He can be compassionate without being soft. He can question your work without questioning your character.

Firing him is a travesty and an injustice. If there's no room for the John Arthurs of the world at the LA Times, there's no hope for its future.

[Jeffrey S. Klein]

John Arthur was one of the best editors I ever worked with at the Los Angeles Times. He is a first class journalist, a great teacher and mentor, and a great guy. He was a terrific partner with me at the Valley Edition in the nineties. t is amazing that he has lasted through all the various ridiculous regimes that have plagued the paper for now so many years. The front page will miss him, and Los Angeles will miss him.

[Mark Landsbaum]

John was and is simply the best. Period.

I wish him the best.

[Jeff Schnaufer]

There isn't enough space in this tiny comment box to illustrate John's impact on the quality of news, sports, etc. that was delivered to Angelenos' doorsteps every morning with a quiet BOOM! I will always consider working with John at the Valley Edition one of the highlights of my career. Hopefully, the Times' loss will be the gain of another news source that values journalistic integrity.

[Dianne Klein]

John Arthur is one of the finest editors and newsroom leaders in the business. He is a man of character, compassion and keen insight. The Los Angeles Times is diminished without him.