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Ever since Davan Maharaj was promoted to editor of the Los Angeles Times, there's been speculation about assistant managing editor Sallie Hofmeister, who was a key part of previous editor Russ Stanton's senior team. Would she move up and succeed Maharaj as managing editor, remain as the top arts and entertainment editor, or leave the paper? Now we know. Maharaj anounced to the newsroom today that Hofmeister, formerly the business editor, is ankling. She'll take the summer off before looking into new career opportunities, he says for her.
Sallie leaves an important legacy. She led a gifted roster of writers and editors — and brought aboard new journalistic talent — to build a formidable team during some very tough times. She integrated Calendar’s print and digital coverage, which had been separate entities. And she did it with her trademark humor, intelligence, humanity and, of course, style.
Full memo below. Her departure will reverberate around Hollywood, but a perhaps bigger local newspaper move was announced today at the Orange County Register. Rob Curley, who comes with the reputation as a new media guru with a string of successes around the country, is joining the Register "to help strengthen our journalism and deepen the relationship with our community." There will be more reaction within the newspaper world to that move. Jim Romenesko has the full memo on that.
From Maharaj:
From: Maharaj, Davan
Sent: Friday, June 15, 2012 2:19 PM
To: yyeditall
Subject: Sallie Hofmeister
To the Staff,
Sallie Hofmeister, who has guided our arts and entertainment coverage for the last three years, is leaving The Times. She says that, after 25 years in newspaper journalism, she wants a summer off before embarking on a new career challenge.
Sallie leaves an important legacy. She led a gifted roster of writers and editors — and brought aboard new journalistic talent — to build a formidable team during some very tough times. She integrated Calendar’s print and digital coverage, which had been separate entities. And she did it with her trademark humor, intelligence, humanity and, of course, style.
She joined us in 1995, from the New York Times, to cover the business of television. For the next decade, she chronicled the rapid consolidation of the entertainment and media business. In 2006, she became an editor, overseeing entertainment and technology coverage. Her team’s work on the 2007 Hollywood writers strike was a finalist for a Loeb Award.
Sallie was named business editor in 2008 and, less than a year later, joined the masthead as an assistant managing editor responsible for arts and entertainment. Under her leadership, the staff expanded its multimedia coverage, launching the Company Town, Ministry of Gossip and 24 Frames blogs. She also ushered in a series of round-table events featuring top directors, TV and movie stars, and cultural figures. Under Sallie’s watch, Hero Complex grew from a blog to include a film festival, a magazine and a weekly YouTube show. Sallie is also proud of partnering with the data desk on three projects: the Walk of Fame, the Heatmeter and an ambitious examination of the membership of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
We’re all very grateful for Sallie’s contributions to the success of The Times and we’ll miss her. Her last day will be June 22.
An announcement of her successor will be forthcoming.
Please join me in wishing her the best in the future.
--Davan
