L.A. Times Publisher Learned He'd Been Fired Via KNX/Los Angeles Report

Bearer of Bad Tidings

Radio's role in breaking news had unfortunate resonance for the publisher of the LOS ANGELES TIMES and SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, AUSTIN BEUTNER, who POLITICO reports learned of his firing from the TRIBUNE PUBLISHING-owned paper from CBS RADIO News KNX-A/LOS ANGELES as he listened on his way to work.

BEUTNER, whose tenure of less than a year drew both praise for his focus on restoring the paper's editorial prominence and criticism for perceived political imbalance (he and many of his hires were prominently involved in Democratic administrations and campaigns, and some opponents inferred that he was planning a gubernatorial run of his own) and his relationship with developer ELI BROAD, rumored to be bidding to buy the TIMES and U-T, was commuting to work TUESDAY morning when he heard KNX report his dismissal.  TRIBUNE PUBLISHING CEO JACK GRIFFIN had not yet reached BEUTNER to deliver the news when BEUTNER heard the report; the news had been out since 3:30a (PT).  BEUTNER was replaced by sister BALTIMORE SUN publisher TIMOTHY RYAN.

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