Hiller's take on Sam Zell

The new boss of the LAT - and of all Tribune for that matter - was at the paper last week, and he apparently had a bunch to say about the future, much of it positive. Publisher David Hiller summarizes the off the record session in a memo to staff. Among Hiller's scribbles:

--High energy straight-talking business owner looking for same in us

--Committed and confident in the deal getting done (don’t focus too much on current stock price)

--He doesn’t associate with mediocrity, so wants to “go for greatness”

--Believes Los Angeles Times is very important and “has a great future”

--“I promise you I did not come here to be captain of the Titanic”

--“My head and neck only look forward;” “I don’t really give a [ ] about the past”

--So don’t talk about the excuses of the past (Chandlers, LA v. Chicago, etc.)

--Our success is about “relevance and revenue and respect”

--Focus, focus on our customers; find out what they want; readers are customers not some theoretical thing

--Without revenue we can’t print the paper

--Online is growing well – but latimes.com can be great only because the LA Times is great and stays relevant

--Need more sense of urgency to change and get things done; “Not next week – now”

--He’s a contrarian – looks to find value by looking at things differently

--Believes in giving people authority and local decision-making, and then holding them accountable

-“I can’t do it” has to be eliminated from our vocabulary

--The future is up to us; Sam wants our plans not his plans; wants open, candor from us (doesn’t kill the messenger)

Others who heard Zell said he was also critical of the paper, saying that it was basically soft (not a description you want to be getting from this guy).

Full memo on the jump