Rushfield: LAT 'kind of tragic'

Now that he's jumped to be west coast editor for Gawker, Richard Rushfield talks about why he left as entertainment editor of the Los Angeles Times website — and why he says others are leaving. The interview is with USC's Neon Tommy.

When you look at things that impact our national conversation...it used to be that you'd write an article for a newspaper and everyone would be talking about it. It would make a huge splash if you had an article in a magazine, Esquire or something. I've seen over the years that print is not what's driving the conversation anymore...

A few other people have left the LA Times online recently. Do you know why?

It's kind of a tragic situation at the LA Times. I mean, everybody left for their own reasons. That said, there was a feeling that the LA Times had sort of ignored its website. It was universally known as the worst website in "old media." Five years ago, people began a real attempt to turn things around. We were able to shake up a lot on the site, and change a lot in the newsroom. But at some point a year and a half ago or so, I think we hit the wall of how much change the L.A. Times was willing to absorb, and the retrenchment began.

What were some of the things they weren't willing to do?

Regard themselves as an online 24-hour news operation first, and to really take seriously the implications of all that entails.

He elaborates over there.

Previously on LA Observed:
LAT lose Artley