Neon Tommy Profiles Drex Heikes

Psst. Psst. Word is over at college newspaper Neon Tommy, LA Weekly is looking to flesh out its staff. Hire reporters. That’s right. Hire. Reporters. That’s means journalists to you technically inclined.

Mike Lacey, the self-proclaimed “asshole in charge,” said he has authorized Heikes to double the size of its editorial staff in the next six months.

In an interview at the Weekly’s offices in Culver City, Heikes said he did not sign on to preside over an organization in decline. At the top of his agenda: reclaiming the Weekly’s legacy of pioneering investigative journalism and its street-level awareness of L.A.’s music and art scenes. He’s already overseeing heavy investment in the Web as a primary delivery vehicle for the Weekly’s goods.

The new editor echoed past voices from the Weekly in describing his editorial approach: “I see it from the ground up, not top down. I don’t want us covering [Los Angeles Mayor Antonio] Villaraigosa like a rock star like the Times did for a few years until they got tired of him. What’s going on in the streets? Let’s work up from that.”

The whole piece by Kevin Douglas Grant can be found here.

Pictured Dex Heikes and FBLA editor Tina Dupuy.

Previously on FBLA: LA Weekly Throws Party For Incoming Editor

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