As one critic put it, no matter how innocent or stupid the agreement was, it has the ring of payola and threatens the credibility, seriousness and purpose of not only the Times but of every journalistic enterprise in the nation. Though Chandler didn't use the words, the shadow of the clash between newsroom and business office was cast strongly across his angry response, and it will be a sorry mistake if editors don't pick up Chandler's challenge and begin to dig in their heels to the encroachment of the business world. Chandler understood that cutting the budget of the newsgathering force, or downsizing the number of people involved in gathering, editing, and interpreting the news isn't what journalism is all about. Chandler understands that one can't impose story quotas on reporters as one does with sales personnel. S tories aren't manufactured by newsgatherers like so many transistor boards.
Stories grow and build and slither and slide.
They have to be chased and cajoled and teased and twisted. The Los Angeles Times' publisher, Kathryn M. Downing, a former book publishing executive, took the hit and apologized, blaming her inexperience with newspapers for doing something stupid and making an innocent mistake. What she didn't say is that she served as a front person for the programmatic invasion of the newsroom by the business office that has been ongoing at the Times since Chandler left and Mark Willes was installed as top manager. Downing's mea culpa sounded pretty good until Chandler blasted her along with other top managers. Then, in a strange turnabout, Downing tried to take the focus off her and put it on Chandler's anger.