It seems to me that Hughes has surrounded himself with sycophants. This would also explain why he was so upset when his husband's political campaign ran into trouble. He was not used to the criticism. Hence his dismissive attitude toward the writing staff.
My hometown paper, the LA Times, also became a money losing proposition, and was sold by the impatient heirs of the founding family to Sam Zell, a Chicago billionaire who was also used to getting his way.
It went about the same way. The two low points that come to mind are Zell saying it was OK for employees to watch porn at work "because it is un-American not to like pussy," and calling a reporter a "motherfucker" to their face, from a podium, while addressing the staff.
Zell is coarser, and is on the right politically, but the essence of the story is the same. Asserting editorial control, thoughtless "disruption," buzzwords, resistance from the old guard of reporters, revolving door of editors, bad news via conference call, resignations.
Because of the way the deal was structured, Zell laughed all the way to the bank. I don't see that happening with Hughes and TNR.
Also, reviewing the sources, he told the reporter -- a reporter from his own paper -- "fuck you" from the podium, rather than "motherfucker." That one was caught on video. There's much, much more on Zell; don't rule anything out by the ordinary sanity checks.
I find him a fascinating character. Utterly repellent, of course. He illustrates the emptiness of the rebel posture, when isolated from any sense of ethics or dignity. Did I mention that he's had The Eagles, and Fleetwood Mac, play at his birthday parties? It's that rock and roll rebel spirit ;-).
Whoever is responsible for it, the LAT's online presence is much better than it was 5 years ago. I don't know if it's working for them money-wise, but as a reader I've been happy with their direction.
My hometown paper, the LA Times, also became a money losing proposition, and was sold by the impatient heirs of the founding family to Sam Zell, a Chicago billionaire who was also used to getting his way.
It went about the same way. The two low points that come to mind are Zell saying it was OK for employees to watch porn at work "because it is un-American not to like pussy," and calling a reporter a "motherfucker" to their face, from a podium, while addressing the staff.
Zell is coarser, and is on the right politically, but the essence of the story is the same. Asserting editorial control, thoughtless "disruption," buzzwords, resistance from the old guard of reporters, revolving door of editors, bad news via conference call, resignations.
Because of the way the deal was structured, Zell laughed all the way to the bank. I don't see that happening with Hughes and TNR.