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‘Los Angeles Times’ Ed. Page Editor Calls It Quits

Whatever gods watch over the editorial pages of newspapers have apparently decreed that the Los Angeles Times should undergo still more turmoil before settling back into business-as-usual.

The paper’s editorial page editor, Andres Martinez, has stepped down, saying that his new publisher, David Hiller, had undermined him, writes The New York Times. Hiller came onboard in November, after former publisher Jeffrey M. Johnson was ousted over his refusal to make staff cuts demanded by parent Tribune Company. The editor at the time, Dean Baquet, had also - and quite publicly - refused to make cuts and, though he was allowed to stay on for a time, eventually parted from the paper as well.

Martinez’s resignation came about after he had helped select Brian Grazer, a Hollywood producer, as guest editor of a special edition of an upcoming opinion section. It came to light yesterday, in the pages of the newspaper, that Martinez is in a relationship with a senior executive at the public relations firm that represents Grazer’s production company. According to the paper’s editor, James O’Shea, Hiller initially said that he did not see a conflict of interest, but that there was the appearance of a conflict that could be handled with an editor’s note disclosing the relationship.

When staff members expressed concern about the appearance of conflict to O’Shea, the editor spoke with Hiller, who cancelled the special edition, due to run on Sunday.

When he heard about the decision, Martinez resigned by announcing his decision in a blog on the newspaper’s website.

The Tribune Company is in the process of considering bids for a total buyout or for selling off assets to improve shareholder value.