David Hiller Calls for LA Times to Reconnect with Locals, Latins

Kevin Roderick has another of those not-very-secret LA Times memos. This one, from publisher David Hiller calls for more local coverage, despite killing the local editions, and for more outreach to the Hispanic population.

There is widespread agreement we need a stronger overall Hispanic strategy. This will require that we resolve the future direction for Hoy (addressing the Spanish speaking part of the market), as well as better defining our strategy in The Times for reaching the English speaking Hispanic audience.

FBLA’s reaction is “Here we go again.” Hiller makes a mistake fairly common to many newcomers to LA–lumping all Spanish speakers into one group. Until recently, the LA Times was reluctant to acknowledge that even newly-arrived Mexicans differed by backgrounds, educational levels, and languages. (See Mark Arax’s piece in West magazine on the life and death of a Triqui Indian, here as a farm worker.)

FBLA wonders if the LAT will try to recapture Daniel Hernandez?

FBLA also if Hiller is aware that budget cuts and web presence don’t mix.

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