Michael Kinsley named LA Times editorial and opinion editor

[DeepModem Mom]

Editor and Publisher:

Kinsley Named to Head 'L.A. Times' Opinion and Editorial Section

By E&P Staff

Published: April 28, 2004 3:23 PM EST

NEW YORK In a surprise move, the Los Angeles Times announced this afternoon that Michael Kinsley, founding editor of online magazine Slate, has been named editorial and opinion editor. Janet Clayton, who has served as editor of the editorial pages since 1995, has been named assistant managing editor for state and local news. The appointments are effective June 14.

Kinsley, 53, has been the editor of The New Republic and Harper's magazines, longtime co-host of CNN's "Crossfire," and is also a widely published writer. He will be responsible for The Times' daily editorial and letters page, the Commentary (Op-ed) page and the Sunday Opinion section.

"Mike is a writer of wit and insight, a lucid thinker on public policy and an innovative editor known for spotting and developing talent," said Editor John Carroll. The appointment marks another bold move for the paper, which earlier this month picked up five Pulitzer Prizes.

Kinsley most recently has been a columnist for Slate.com and The Washington Post, and a contributing writer for Time magazine. In 1995 he founded Slate, the online magazine published by Microsoft, and was its editor for six years. For two decades he was associated with the New Republic, as its editor and as author of its "TRB From Washington" column....

http://www.mediainfo.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000498637

[CatWoman]

1. I really like Michael Kinsley

but he goes off the deep end sometimes.........

[rumguy]

2. this is good news

[checks-n-balances]

3. Yay - good for both of them! Hope Slate doesn't go RW, though

That was smart of the LAT because he is still pretty healthy. I was so sorry a few years ago to hear that he has MS (I think that's the correct medical problem). I hope he can go on with all of his work for the rest of his life, but it may become more difficult.

Congrats & Luv ya, MK!

[charlie]

4. Kinsley has Parkinson's

He hasn't been editor at Slate for a couple of years, so if they do go rightward, it won't have anything to do with Kinsley's departure.

[mouse7]

11. I'm glad Kinsley is felling healthy enough to take new job

There was a lot of speculation that Kinsley withdrew from being editor of Slate because his health was in decline. I'm glad he feels good enough to take on greater responsibilities.

[dsc]

5. I am glad to hear that

He is a great liberal. He wasn't the best on crossfire but he is a heck of a writer which is the point.

[charlie]

6. His partisan instincts are a shade too mellow for me

but I agree, LA Times is getting a heck of a writer.

[Nlighten1]

7. Kinsley is crap...

He is the reason I stopped watching Crossfire. His brand of Republican enabling must stop.

[BabsSong]

8. I've missed Kinsley--I glad he's coming onboard at this time...n/t

[Selwynn]

9. I liked Kinsley, even while growing up conservative - always liked him

Once I could think for myself, I liked him even more.

[bemildred]

10. Does this mean we get rid of Ramirez and his dipshit cartoons? nt

[CatWoman]

12. I sure in the fuck hope so

:grr:

[JI7]

yeah, but i think warmonger chickenhawk max boot is worse

i can't stand them hiring an ignorant ass like him.

[bemildred]

17. Ramirez is worse, he's there every day.

Boot shows up now and then, and most of the time
he's unreadable. Of course Ramirez is incoherent
a good deal of the time too. I don't know how many
times I been sort of dumbfounded trying to figure
out what it was he meant to say.

[Cocoa]

13. Kinsley is a very good writer

he's one of my favorites.

[VolcanoJen]

14. Congratulations, Michael!!!

Good news, indeed.

[JI7]

15. going to start reading la times regularly again

this is great. great move by the la times

[UTUSN]

16. Awlllll-riGHTTTTTT! Sounds GOOD!!!!!!!! n/t