Top editor for LA News Group moving on

Michael Anastasi, vice president and executive editor of the Los Angeles News Group, announced Monday that he is leaving be VP of news and executive editor for the Tennessean newspaper and the Tennessee Media Network. He will be around LANG until Nov. 13. No successor has been named.

From the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, one of the LANG papers along with the Daily News:

“Mike’s decision to leave the Los Angeles News Group was not easy,” LANG President and Publisher Ron Hasse said. “But his choice made sense personally and professionally as he will be relocated with family in Nashville and will have the opportunity to present his solutions to another community that will benefit from his knowledge, wisdom and experience.”

In his role as executive editor for LANG’s nine daily newspapers and six weeklies, Anastasi has helped shape the organization’s expanding digital presence and social media outreach, which have served to engage readers in new and dynamic ways.

He praised the LANG organization in a memo sent out to employees late Monday.

“What I’ve found myself reflecting upon are the special and dedicated people who make up this organization, and the many and the amazing accomplishments of each of our newsrooms and each of you,” he wrote. “I remain convinced the need and desire for local journalism has never been stronger. Whether that’s local journalism in L.A., or Tennessee, or elsewhere, it’s the backbone of our country and of our democracy. It’s important to readers. It’s important to advertisers. It’s important to communities.”

Anastasi took over as LANG’s executive editor in August 2012.