KPCC hires Russ Stanton, ex LAT editor, as VP of content

It's unclear whether this was in the works when Russ Stanton stepped down as editor of the Los Angeles Times in December. Today he was named KPCC's vice president for content, a new position at the expansion-minded station. From the KPCC story:

The hire is part of an aggressive effort by the nonprofit news organization to become the preeminent regional source for both broadcast and online news — with deeper, more enterprising and investigative coverage.

"I am very excited to be joining the staff of my favorite radio station and in particular a newsroom that's growing and an organization that's fairly down the path of developing a sustainable business model to produce high-quality" journalism, Stanton said in an interview today.

In his new role, Stanton will work to ensure the KPCC newsroom works in synergy along broadcast, digital and live-event platforms, said SCPR president and CEO Bill Davis. One of Stanton’s first tasks will be to select an executive editor, who will supervise the day-to-day operations of the newsroom on both the broadcast and digital platform, Davis said.

“He really has some strong insights on how to expand digital audiences,” Davis said. “That was something I thought complemented the skill set we already have here at SCPR. We have a lot of people with strong broadcast backgrounds. He comes with a strong digital background.”

Stanton was selected in a national search from more than 100 applicants, KPCC says. His first day at the station is Feb. 6.

Also from the station's story: "SCPR's board has approved a plan to raise $24 million over four years in order to more than double its 57-person newsroom by July 1, 2014, said KPCC's program director Craig Curtis. The company has already raised more than $8 million so far, and it hired 20 people for its news department in the last year, he said. KPCC plans to hire at least 13 more news positions — including producers, editors, bloggers, and hosts — in the coming year, Curtis added."

Previously on LA Observed:
Times frames Stanton's exit in the context of cuts
Russ Stanton's last memo to the LA Times staff