More on O'Shea

This could be an interesting match. O'Shea is described as a very midwestern guy, "about as un-L.A. person as I can imagine," according to a former colleague. But he might some commonality among the L.A. editors who are trying to find new readers. O'Shea has been faced with similar challenges in Chicago. At a newspaper seminar in Tokyo last year, he talked about starting up RedEye, the Tribune's freebie tab that's aimed at young'uns. Here's what he said:

We all seem to have a common problem--readership. Readers are either abandoning us because they can get their news free on our Web sites, or they are getting their news from free papers or they are not reading newspapers at all. We have an aging readership that loves our print newspaper and continues to subscribe. We are not replacing them with younger readers...who routinely go to the Internet or free newspapers for their news--without paying a cent. Our loyal readers expect, even demand, a serious newspaper with in-depth reporting, sophisticated coverage on everything from global economics to local school systems. The Chicago Tribune is not the kind of newspaper our marketing folks tell us that these elusive young readers want.

Here's how he closed:

Experimentation and innovation are key elements of my newsroom at the Chicago Tribune. Innovation isn't limited to free papers. We are trying different forms of storytelling... As the Internet develops further, we must create a newspaper of the future - something that will take readers beyond the news by insight, wisdom and informed analysis. I know there's a lot of gloom about the state of the business, about the future of newspapers. But I personally prefer to think of this as a challenge. Challenges can be electric, energizing, exciting - all qualities that drew me into journalism in the first place.