Publisher. Known as a swashbuckling former publisher of the Los Angeles Times, he is credited with rescuing his family's newspaper from mediocrity and establishing it as a nationally respected media voice. He was a California beach boy who, during his aggressive 20-year tenure as publisher of the Los Angeles Times in the 1960s and 1970s, transformed the paper from a conservative voice into one of the country's premier exemplars of daily journalism. In his first year as publisher, he increased the news budget by 45 percent and in his 20 years as publisher, he increased it tenfold. Chandler offered big salaries and lured prize-winning writers from other papers, including Robert Donovan of the New York Herald Tribune and star editorial cartoonists including Paul Conrad of the Denver Post. He opened bureaus around the world and created a wire-service partnership with The Washington Post. Knowing it would also aid his own national profile, he made the Times' bureau in Washington one of the largest in staffing. The Times had two news bureaus when he started; when he left, it had 34. The paper began winning journalism awards, a tradition that continues today. During his management, it earned six Pulitzer prizes. He was the great-grandson of Harrison Gray Otis, who became publisher and part-owner of the Times in 1882. A surfer who also loved racing his Porsche, he was the last in his family to head the paper.
Publisher. Known as a swashbuckling former publisher of the Los Angeles Times, he is credited with rescuing his family's newspaper from mediocrity and establishing it as a nationally respected media voice. He was a California beach boy who, during his aggressive 20-year tenure as publisher of the Los Angeles Times in the 1960s and 1970s, transformed the paper from a conservative voice into one of the country's premier exemplars of daily journalism. In his first year as publisher, he increased the news budget by 45 percent and in his 20 years as publisher, he increased it tenfold. Chandler offered big salaries and lured prize-winning writers from other papers, including Robert Donovan of the New York Herald Tribune and star editorial cartoonists including Paul Conrad of the Denver Post. He opened bureaus around the world and created a wire-service partnership with The Washington Post. Knowing it would also aid his own national profile, he made the Times' bureau in Washington one of the largest in staffing. The Times had two news bureaus when he started; when he left, it had 34. The paper began winning journalism awards, a tradition that continues today. During his management, it earned six Pulitzer prizes. He was the great-grandson of Harrison Gray Otis, who became publisher and part-owner of the Times in 1882. A surfer who also loved racing his Porsche, he was the last in his family to head the paper.
Bio by: Fred Beisser
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