Los Angeles Times Continues Editorial Transformation

New Approach to Sunday OPINION, BOOK REVIEW, TV TIMES and BUSINESS Focus on

Multimedia, Rich Content and Personal Utility

    LOS ANGELES, March 26 /PRNewswire/ -- The Los Angeles Times today
 announced several editorial changes designed to meet the evolving needs of
 readers, users and advertisers. The shifts come on the heels of recent new
 content launches and redesigned editorial offerings and emphasize
 integration across print and online to better position The Times as a
 dynamic, round-the-clock destination for indispensable and differentiated
 news and information for Southern Californians.
     "Our customers are changing how they live, work and play in Southern
 California -- including how, when and where they get their news and
 information," said The Times Publisher, David D. Hiller. "We are changing
 with them, adding in some areas and going in a new direction in others, and
 always sustaining the world class content our readers and users expect."
     Highlights include:
 
     *  The return of the OPINION section, (now called CURRENT), which will
        be merged with BOOK REVIEW as a combined Sunday section beginning
        April 15
 
          *  The redesigned BOOK REVIEW will be more visual, featuring
             portraiture and enhanced photography
 
          *  More book reviews will now appear daily in various sections of
             the paper, with the majority housed in CALENDAR
 
          *  www.latimes.com/books will have stronger presence and become a
             valuable one-stop resource incorporating book store-search
             ability, book-related event and lecture listings, as well as easy
             to find book news and reviews by The Times writers and
             contributors
 
          *  Interactive Editorial Pages content will be available online at
             www.latimes.com/opinion, including web-only columns, online
             debates about the week's news, chats with Times columnists and
             others, and a lively blog updated throughout the day by The Times
             editorial board
 
     *  The SUNDAY BUSINESS Section will take on a "Your Money" focus beginning
        April 15, part of Business' ongoing day-of-the-week themed strategy
        that includes Small Business on Wednesday and International Trade on
        Saturday
 
          *  "Your Money" will feature enhanced consumer information and
             personal finance content, including how-to stories on investing,
             savings strategies and tax planning
 
          *  The popular "Money Makeover" feature will return once a month,
             giving readers the opportunity to have their financial situations
             assessed by a professional advisor
 
          *  BUSINESS columnists Tom Petruno and Kathy Kristof will host
             "Marketbeat" and "Personal Finance," respectively, and Liz Pulliam
             Weston's "Money-Talk" column will be refocused and address finance
             issues for 18-35 year olds in her first few columns
 
          *  A print/online consumer beat column, www.latimes.com/business,
             will offer strategies on how to find the best deals both online
             and in the bricks and mortar world, with specific Sunday coverage
             devoted to high interest topics such as how to find the best phone
             deals and what to look for in your health plan
 
          *  Every SUNDAY BUSINESS will profile a business leader
 
     *  Sunday CALENDAR's comprehensive TV coverage expands with the addition
        of a new "TV This Week" page, which will include a "Critic's Pick" as
        well as Monday-Sunday recommendations and discoveries to help readers
        plan their viewing
 
          *  "TV Times" will end its run on April 8
 
          *  www.latimes.com/tvtimes will debut an enhanced, 24/7 searchable
             grid which will include tips and highlights from The Times critics
             and staff writers, sports and talk show highlights and movie
             reviews
 
          *  Daily TV listing grids in the print edition remain unchanged
     "The media landscape is changing dramatically and the Los Angeles Times
 must change to remain relevant and vital to our readers," said editor of
 The Times, James O'Shea. "One thing won't change, though. The Times and its
 staff will continue to put out a comprehensive, excellent newspaper every
 day and our commitment to providing locally edited news and information
 about Los Angeles, Southern California, the nation and the world remains as
 strong and durable as ever."
     Over the past several months numerous initiatives and products have
 been introduced to focus on the needs of the Southland's growing local
 audience and enhance the depth and distinct perspectives that have made The
 Times an industry leader. Those include the November '06 launch of The
 Envelope print series to compliment TheEnvelope.com's successful and
 influential de facto entertainment awards insider Web site; January's
 announced reinvention of the newsroom into a 24/7 operation allocating
 resources and accelerating product development online; the redesigned,
 local/regionally-oriented TRAVEL section and Web site; and the March 18
 debut of IMAGE, in print and online, a smart cultural observer of SoCal's
 unique perspective on fashion, beauty, shopping and style with an eye on
 the international scene. In addition, readers, users and advertisers can
 anticipate a re-imagined CALENDAR WEEKEND/CALENDARLIVE.com this summer as
 well as additional products that will roll out later in the year.
     About the Los Angeles Times
     The Los Angeles Times is the largest metropolitan daily newspaper in
 the country, with a daily readership of nearly 2.2 million and 3.3 million
 on Sunday. The Los Angeles Times and its media businesses -- including
 latimes.com, The Envelope/theenvelope.com, Times Community Newspapers,
 Recycler Classifieds, Hoy, and California Community News - reach
 approximately 8.1 million or 62% of all adults in the Southern California
 marketplace every week.
     The Los Angeles Times, has been covering Southern California for over
 125 years and is part of Tribune Company ( TRB), one of the country's
 leading media companies with businesses in publishing, the Internet and
 broadcasting. Additional information about the Los Angeles Times is
 available at www.latimes.com/mediacenter.
 
 

SOURCE Los Angeles Times