LA Times editor steps down, to become adviser

Los Angeles Times editor Norman Pearlstine will step down to assume an advisory role for the paper as the company seeks to appoint a new overseer of the newsroom.

The Times’s owner and Executive Chairman Patrick Soon-Shiong penned a letter to staff members announcing the update, adding that two veteran interim managers would take over Pearlstine’s role while a separate hiring firm manages the process for finding a new executive editor.

Pearlstine, 78, served in the position for over two years. He said in October he planned to retire, though a tangible timeline for his exit was not immediately disclosed two months ago.

He previously held top editing positions with Time, The Wall Street Journal and Forbes magazine. Pearlstine also served as a senior executive at Bloomberg News.

The Times reported Pearlstine has been establishing the framework for a smooth transition, adding he has delegated duties to three top editors: Scott Kraft, Kimi Yoshino and Sewell Chan. The interim managers will work alongside business-side leaders such as President and Chief Operating Officer Chris Argentieri and Chief Human Resources Officer Nancy Antoniou.

The paper added that Pearlstine’s legacy was cemented amid a major shift for the news outlet after Soon-Shiong and his wife Michele purchased the publication, saying the editor “led a dramatic hiring spree, replenishing the paper’s beleaguered ranks and recruiting top editors. Today, more than 520 employees work in the newsroom.”

“As we became the new owners and needed to rapidly and thoughtfully revive this great American newspaper, Norm’s experience as a journalist and media executive proved invaluable,” Soon-Shiong added.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Times also suffered losses from ad buys as more businesses were impacted by the pandemic and shutdowns during the second quarter of 2020.

Soon-Shiong thanked Pearlstine for his support and contributions during a tumultuous year for the newsroom, adding that he left the paper “a much better organization” from when he joined the team 2 1/2 years ago.

“We’re fortunate that we have a strong leadership team in place, both in the newsroom and across the company. We will continue the search to find the right candidate to serve as the next editor of the Los Angeles Times and provide an update when we have more news to share,” the Times’s owner said.