Los Angeles Times Publisher David D. Hiller's decision Thursday to scrap a special opinion section to avoid the appearance of an ethical breach triggered the resignation of Editorial Page Editor Andres Martinez, who accused the paper's editor and publisher of overreacting.
Hiller announced early in the day that he would not publish a special Current section -- featuring Hollywood producer Brian Grazer as guest editor -- because it might appear to some readers that Grazer had an unfair advantage when he was selected.
Grazer has been represented by the publicity firm 42 West and executive Kelly Mullens, who is Martinez's girlfriend. Martinez and Mullens denied that their relationship influenced the decision to pick Grazer as the first in a planned series of prominent guest editors for the Current section.
In an interview Thursday night, Martinez said that halting publication of the special section "was an overreaction. It was not necessary. I think the damage to the institution was significant."
Martinez blamed Hiller and Times Editor James E. O'Shea, who both came from Chicago last fall after their predecessors left the paper under pressure from The Times' parent, Tribune Co.
"I do think there is a larger dynamic here of an editor and publisher who have been sent out here and who have a very tenuous grip on the provinces," he said. "They did something that placated a few people in the newsroom, the vocal ones that made them look foolish to the outside world."
Responding Thursday night, O'Shea -- who oversees the news and features sections but not the opinion pages -- said: "As editor of the paper I'm the custodian of a public trust, and I felt there was a bad situation that could harm the integrity of the paper. Above all, it's my responsibility to protect the paper's reputation. This was not an overreaction."
Many reporters and editors in the Times newsroom supported the publisher and editor.
"O'Shea stepped up to the plate when the paper's credibility was in question," veteran reporter Henry Weinstein said. "He did the right thing and he did it with alacrity, which was a good thing for this newspaper. And I'm glad Hiller made the right decision."
Hiller said in an interview that he began to ask questions after he learned about the possible impropriety last week. He decided that Grazer, producer of "A Beautiful Mind," "The Da Vinci Code" and other hit films, was chosen for the assignment on his merits.
