Report: LATimes.com to Institute Paywall in First Quarter of 2012

In the wake of today’s announcement that yet another LA Times editor is stepping down, TheWrap’s media reporter Lucas Shaw did a little digging. The result is a pretty interesting article about where the paper may be headed.

Despite a massive increase in web traffic, revenue for LATimes.com has not followed in kind. So, according to Shaw’s sources, the website paywall that has been rumored is coming in the first quarter of 2012, together with a custom tablet. He also offers some info about the next round of layoffs:

New cuts are on the horizon, with 12 to 20 staffers to be laid off sometime after the first of the year, according to one individual with knowledge of the situation. Deeper cuts may well follow after the final numbers for 2011 are in…

Budget cuts could also include eliminating or merging entire sections of the paper. On the block would be weekly feature sections such as the Travel, Home, Image, Food or Books.

Another one of Shaw’s sources suggests that the outgoing Russ Stanton has been butting heads with new senior vp of digital operations Emily Smith, who came over from Disney in July.

Previously on FishbowlLA:
Is the LA Times Going Behind a Paywall?

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