2007 Los Angeles Times Editorial Awards

Below is a partial list of the winners of the 2007 Los Angeles Times Editorial Awards; names of the recipients of the Editor's Prize* and a Special Citation* (see updates) will be announced at a staff gathering tonight.

Promotion for Senior Copy Chief Mark McGonigle

Here's a memo from Meredith Artley, Executive Editor, Interactive, and Melissa McCoy, Deputy Managing Editor, announcing an expansion in duties for Senior Copy Chief Mark McGonigle.

Phil Willon to the City Hall team

Here's a memo to the staff from California Editor David Lauter announcing reporter Phil Willon's assignment to the City Hall beat.

National Desk's new night editor

Here's a memo from National Editor Scott Kraft announcing Connie Stewart's appointment as night editor of that desk:

I'm delighted to announce that Connie Stewart, who has skillfully guided the early Sunday Bulldog edition of the paper for much of the past two decades, has joined the National Desk as night editor.

Connie has a wealth of editing experience, and much of it with national news. She was assistant political editor during the 1992 presidential campaign and, earlier, a national copy editor, news editor and wire editor.

Top of the Ticket wins Publisher's Prize

A note to staff from Editor Russ Stanton congratulates the Times' national-politics bloggers on winning an award from Publisher David Hiller:

Two reporters return to California desk

Here is a memo to the staff from California editor David Lauter announcing new assignments for reporters Jessica Garrison and Bill Lobdell.

Changes at the top

Editor Russ Stanton's memo to staff below names John Arthur to the new position of executive editor and Davan Maharaj to replace Arthur as managing editor:

Terry McDermott wins science journalism award

A memo from Editor Russ Stanton: Congratulations to Terry McDermott, winner of the Wistar Institute Science Journalism Award for “Chasing Memory,” a four-part series on the quest to understand how memory works and why it breaks down.

The Guide takes over as entertainment source

Below is a memo from Associate Editor Leo C. Wolinsky and LATimes.com Executive Editor Meredith Artley about The Guide becoming the website's main resource on things to do in and around Los Angeles:

Vision 2010

Below is a memo from Editor Russ Stanton about plans that came out of a meeting of editors this week.

Colleagues: I wanted to give you an update on the editorial planning retreat that 26 of our editors participated in this week. Our goal was to develop a three-year plan for the direction of our newsgathering operation between now and 2010. I am very pleased to report that we made significant progress, laying the foundation for the process that will guide us toward this goal. Our work this week involved determining the values we want to guide us, what we want the newsroom to look like, and developing a plan to get us there.

Business Section honored

Below is a memo from Editor Russ Stanton and Managing Editor John Arthur announcing the General Excellence award from the Society of American Business Editors and Writers to the L.A. Times Business Section.

AP names Plaschke the best of big newspapers' sports columnists

Managing Editor John Arthur's memo announces honors to Bill Plaschke, T.J. Simers  and Kevin Baxter from the Associated Press Sports Editors: 

Real Estate's new Hot Property writer

In this note to staff, Associate Editor Leo Wolinsky and Real Estate Editor Lauren Beale announce that Ann Brenoff will take over the Hot Property column:

Reporter Jia-Rui Chong moves to California desk

Here is a memo to staff from California editor David Lauter announcing reporter Jia-Rui Chong's return to the California desk.

Note to staff on the Tupac Shakur investigative piece

Below is a memo from Times Publisher David Hiller and Editor Russ Stanton about today's report on the Tupac Shakur story of March 17.

Reader reaction on the topic can be found here.

Critics' bylines will reflect their specialties

The memo below from Associate Editor Leo Wolinsky announces a change in critics' bylines.

New roles for two latimes.com editors

From a memo to staff from David Lauter, editor of the California section, and Aaron Curtiss, deputy innovation editor, announcing new jobs for two editors at the online edition:

Top awards won in Pictures of the Year competition

Below is a memo from Assistant Managing Editor for Photography Colin Crawford announcing awards for the L.A. Times' photography staff.

Times editor Russ Stanton's speech to staff

Here are Russ Stanton's remarks to the newsroom upon being named editor of The Times on Feb. 14, 2008. (Related stories: L.A. Times; Washington Post; The New York Times.)

Stanton is named Times editor

Here is a memo from Times Publisher David Hiller announcing Russ Stanton as the Times' new editor, as well as other organizational changes. (Related Times story here.)

Tribune and The Times announce staff cuts

Here are memos from Tribune Co. Chief Executive Sam Zell and Times Publisher David Hiller announcing job eliminations at The Times and elsewhere in the company (Times news story here):

Editor James O'Shea's farewell to the newsroom

Here is a transcript of an address given by James O'Shea, Times editor, on Monday, Jan. 21, 2008:

Publisher's memo on editor's exit

Here's the memo sent to Times staff from Publisher David Hiller, on the departure of Editor James O'Shea, on Monday, Jan. 21, 2008:

New assignments in the California section

Following is a memo from David Lauter, California editor, on Thursday, Jan. 17, 2008.

Changes on design desk, National copy desk

Following is a memo from Michael Whitley, assistant managing editor, and Tim Lynch, senior copy chief over Foreign and National, on Monday, Jan. 14, 2008.

Staff announcement: Changes on the Foreign desk

Following is a memo sent by Foreign Editor Marjorie Miller on Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2008:

Staff announcement: Rick Meyer

Following is a memo announcing Rick Meyer's leaving The Times, sent by Managing Editor John Arthur on Monday, Dec. 31, 2007:

Staff announcement: Sam Zell named chairman, CEO

Following are excerpts from Sam Zell's note to staff upon becoming the chairman of the board and chief executive officer of the Los Angeles Times' parent, Tribune Company:

Staff announcement: Tribune chairman and CEO resigns

Dennis FitzSimons announces his resignation as chairman and CEO of The Times' parent, Tribune Co., in this memo on Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2007:

Staff announcement: More changes at the magazine

As a follow-up to the memo of Monday, Dec. 17, here's the announcement of a new style editor and new roles for others at Los Angeles Times Magazine from its consulting editor, Lennie LaGuire, on Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2007:

Staff announcement: John B. Oakes Award for Distinguished Environmental Journalism

Following is a memo announcing an award to reporter Judy Pasternak for her work on the “Blighted Homeland” series, sent by Editor James O'Shea on Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2007:

Staff announcement: Assistant managing editor for design

Following is a memo announcing Michael Whitley as the new assistant managing editor for design, sent by Managing Editor John Arthur on Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2007:

Staff announcement: Magazine

Following are changes to the Los Angeles Times Magazine announced in a memo Monday, Dec. 17, 2007 by John Montorio, managing editor, features:

Hail and farewell is a kind of holiday tradition, so let's begin with the latter.

As many of you know, our friend and colleague Lennie LaGuire finally is making good on her threat to pursue life outside The Times. Nobody, of course, is indispensable, but Lennie comes about as close as you can get. Since leaving Calendar, she's done a brilliant job leading our efforts to rethink and relaunch the magazine.

While the search for her permanent successor continues, I'm very happy to tell you that we've found just the right interim leaders within our own department, editors who will not only build on Lennie's great work, but also take the magazine to new levels of excellence and service.

Staff announcement: Website changes

From Meredith Artley, Executive Editor, LATimes.com

Colleagues: As we wrap up a great year at latimes.com, I’m excited to announce the following changes and additions to our digital efforts.

Staff announcement: California desk

To: The Staff
From: David Lauter, California Editor

Many of you have heard me talk about my goal of establishing new bureaus in key parts of the region. As I've said before, getting more reporters out into the communities that make up Southern California is a crucial step that will allow us to broaden and deepen our news report. Establishing these bureaus with strong, experienced reporters is a top priority.

Today, I'm very happy to announce that three outstanding reporters have agreed to take on the responsibility of being bureau chiefs. Each of them will direct a group of reporters, shaping coverage in a broad geographic region. The goal is to provide our readers a steady stream of high quality, sophisticated stories that will enliven A-1 and the California section for readers across Southern California.