Former L.A. Times editor Ken Reich has some harsh words for new head ed Russ Stanton and his policies -- particularly the "cracking down" on using anonymous sources.

Reich notes that former LAT reporter Barry Bearak had a terrifically interesting account in the Sunday NYT of his imprisonment for publishing reports about the Zimbabwean election -- stories dependent upon anonymous sources.

Reich gives Stanton credit for naming Davan Maharaj as managing editor, but otherwise dismisses everything the guy has done: "He continues to show his lack of intellect and sophistication. Under him, and his patron, David Hiller, the paper is slowly becoming a laughing stock."

Slowly? As Kevin Roderick notes today, LAT has posted the biggest percentage drop of the top 10 U.S. papers. At least we're lead in something.