Follow LA Observed on Twitter here
Not that folks at the LA Weekly should be alarmed or anything, but once Erik Wemple got to the Village Voice he decided he didn't want to be editor after all. Wemple had accepted the job (leaving Washington City Paper) and on Monday met with the staff. So far so good. Further discussions with Village Voice Media (nee New Times) honcho Michael Lacey didn't go as well. Both made nice in statements posted on the Voice blog, but Wemple clearly didn't like what he saw.
I met with the staff earlier this week and very much enjoyed our time together. However, the paper's ownership and I have failed to come to terms in our many discussions about moving forward, particularly with respect to newsroom management.
From Lacey:
Erik's concerns are not unreasonable. The Voice is an enormous and complex horse race. We asked Erik to mount several ponies mid-stride, and he was alarmed to find us still in several of those saddles.
Wemple was to be the first top editor installed in the newly merged VVM/NT empire. No word on Lacey's plans for the LA Weekly and OC Weekly.