Los Angeles Times

The four generations of families that ran Los Angeles Times for most of its history helped to shape the city of Los Angeles and its surrounding region economically and politically. Fourth-generation publisher Otis Chandler, who ran the paper from 1960 to 1980, was groomed to bring the newspaper from third-rate journalistic quality to first-rate excellence among leading peers in New York, Washington, and Chicago. This entry discusses the history of Los Angeles Times and changes at the newspaper under its various owners.

Los Angeles Times began publishing in 1881 as a four-page daily that was primarily advertising content. A few months later, Harrison Otis, a printer and Civil War lieutenant colonel, began working at the paper for $15 a week. He later bought a share of ...