Exodus Continues At The L-A Times

Renata Simril, The L-A Times's SVP/Chief-of-staff, informed staff Thursday afternoon that she will be leaving Friday due to publisher Austin Beutner's abrupt firing earlier this week, reports Politico.

"I joined Austin and the Los Angeles Times because I believe in the importance of the 4th Estate; to hold power accountable and to be the civic conscious and voice of Los Angeles," Siril wrote in her email to colleagues. "I believe that this world class city deserves a world class paper; one that inspires, educates and informs."

Also gone is Nicco Mele, the Los Angeles Times' senior vice president and deputy publisher.

Mele had been hired by Beutner in November of last year to revamp the Times' digital business.

She is the fourth high-profile Times staffer to announce her departure on Thursday. Others areJohanna Maska, the Times top spokesperson, announced her resignation early Thursday morning. Hours later, White House correspondent Kathleen Hennessey announced that she would be moving back to The Associated Press.

Beutner was abruptly fired by Tribune Publishing CEO Jack Griffin on Tuesday after just 13 months on the job. Several sources at the Times and Tribune Publishing, as well as others with knowledge of the situation, told the On Media blog that Griffin suspected Beutner of orchestrating an effort to acquire the Tribune's California papers — the Times and the San Diego Union-Tribune — and take them private.

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