There are now five editors reporting to Los Angeles Times Executive Editor Norman Pearlstine, who unveiled a new leadership team consisting of Scott Kraft, “newcomer” Kris Viesselman and Kimi Yoshino. Colin Crawford remains a deputy managing editor, while Nick Goldberg continues as editor of the editorial pages.
Pictured: Scott Kraft
Kraft, who becomes managing editor, has been with The Times for more than three decades, and will now be responsible for foreign, national, Washington, California, and Metro news in addition to investigations and enterprise reporting, according to an LA Times announcement. The report noted that until July 9, Kraft, who is 63, served as deputy managing editor from August 2012 and was previously the front-page editor and national editor.
The Kansas native is well-traveled, too, having been bureau chief in Nairobi, Kenya; Johannesburg, South Africa; and Paris. He joined the paper in 1984 as a staff writer in its Chicago bureau after working at the Associated Press, where he was a national correspondent based in New York and a 1984 Pulitzer Prize finalist in feature writing.
The Times noted Kraft was one of the few senior editors to survive a purge of the paper’s leadership last summer by its previous owners, Tronc Inc., which cuts dozens of employees, including former Editor-in-Chief Lewis D’Vorkin. Billionaire Patrick Soon-Shiong acquired The Times and other assets such as Spanish-language Hoy and other papers for $500 million. Hoy and other community newspapers are under Crawford’s charge.
Pictured: Kris Viesselman
The paper made a new role for Kris Viesselman, 52, who joined as chief transformation editor and creative director.
The article put together by corporate media reporter Meg James noted that Viesselman, a Minnesota native, comes to Los Angeles from Congressional Quarterly and Roll Call in Washington, where she was editor-in-chief, leading a newsroom of over 100 people.
But this isn’t her first go-around at The Times as Viesselman previously worked in graphics for the paper from 1993 to 1998, after five years of designing at The Sacramento Bee. She also made stops at San Jose Mercury News (2003 to 2005), National Geographic (2005 to 2010) and The San Diego Union-Tribune (2010 to 2014).
Referring to recent work, Pearlstine said in a memo to staff: “She makes tough decisions look easy. I also appreciate her ability to create an environment that encourages collaboration and great journalism.”
Pictured: Kimi Yoshino
Kimi Yoshino, 46, who has been a business editor for the last four years, moves up to deputy managing editor, overseeing sports, business, arts, entertainment and lifestyle coverage, the paper announced.
In the last few months, Yoshino was also in charge of the digital report.
She previously worked as an editor in Metro and as a reporter, joining the paper’s Orange County edition in 2000.
