Categories: OLD Media Moves

New biz editor named at LA Times

Davan Maharaj, who has been deputy business editor of the Los Angeles Times, now becomes its top business editor, replacing Russ Stanton, who is becoming the paper’s business editor.

Stanton sent an e-mail from editor Jim O’Shea announcing the change to Talking Biz News.

O’Shea wrote, “A respected and highly accomplished journalist, Davan brings a distinguished career and strong leadership to the job. In his 17 years at The Times, Davan has covered Orange County, been a foreign correspondent, a reporter in business, assistant foreign editor and deputy business editor. He has won numerous journalism awards, including the Ernie Pyle award for International Reporting in 2005.

“Davan is an energetic, creative and smart journalist who will put his stamp of excellence on The Times business coverage. His appointment takes effect immediately. I am sure everyone joins me in congratulating Davan and his family on his new job and challenge. This is a promotion that is richly deserved. I know he will do a great job.”

Stanton was moved to his new position last month in a move by the paper to focus more on breaking news on its Web site.

Maharaj has a Yale Master’s Degree in law and an undergraduate degree from the University of Tennessee. He is a former Nairobi correspondent for the paper and worked as a business reporter from 1998 to 2001.

In the Times story posted Friday morning, reporter James Rainey wrote, “Maharaj said he hoped to build on the ‘solid foundation’ left by his predecessor and to focus particular attention on Southern California businesses and entrepreneurs. He said he planned to improve the business section’s profile on the newspaper’s Internet site, latimes.com, and ‘to attract younger readers with features and advice that we think they might welcome and to make our business coverage a really necessary read for people of all ages.’

“The Times has focused particular attention on the entertainment industry, an emphasis Maharaj said he planned to continue while expanding reporting on personal finance.”