Free press advocates and LA Weekly staffers are demanding that the mysterious company that bought the news organization and gutted most of its staff reveal its identity.
Semanal Media LLC, the secretive buyer that formed for the sole purpose of purchasing LA Weekly last month, closed on the sale Wednesday and promptly laid off nine of the 13 members of the alternative weeklys editorial staff, sending shock waves across an industry already rattled by unexpected reductions and closures.
On Thursday, the Society of Professional Journalists condemned Semanals continued anonymity.
In an era of rampant misinformation and distrust, its especially important that we do not allow the owners and backers of news organizations to remain a mystery, said SPJ ethics committee chairperson Andrew Seaman. We cannot allow this to become the norm.
LA Weekly, which has been in operation in Los Angeles for about 40 years, also posted a story on its site urging readers to question its new ownership.
The new owners of L.A. Weekly dont want you to know who they are, wrote contributor Keith Plocek, a lecturer at the University of Southern Californias Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. They are hiding from you. Theyve got big black bags with question marks covering their big bald heads.
The cuts leave LA Weekly with just one staff writer. A number of the employees laid off on Wednesday tweeted bleak goodbyes.
Im still shell shocked after yesterdays incomprehensible, daringly dumb, lets be legends layoffs, but thank you for all kind words and notes. It was an honor to write for this storied publication. To be a footnote in its history is a dream come true. Farewell, old pal. RIP pic.twitter.com/Fdf11nj92g
April Wolfe (@AWolfeful) November 30, 2017","type":"rich","meta":{"author":"April Wolfe","author_url":"https://twitter.com/AWolfeful","cache_age":86400,"description":"Im still shell shocked after yesterdays incomprehensible, daringly dumb, lets be legends layoffs, but thank you for all kind words and notes. It was an honor to write for this storied publication. To be a footnote in its history is a dream come true. Farewell, old pal. RIP pic.twitter.com/Fdf11nj92g April Wolfe (@AWolfeful) November 30, 2017\n\n","provider_name":"Twitter","thumbnail_height":2048,"thumbnail_url":"https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DP4veAKVQAAB1Gu.jpg:large","thumbnail_width":2048,"title":"April Wolfe on Twitter","type":"rich","url":"https://twitter.com/AWolfeful/status/936237973032411136","version":"1.0"},"flags":[],"fullBleed":false,"options":{"theme":"news","device":"mobile","editionInfo":{"id":"us","name":"U.S.","link":"https://action.news","locale":"en_US"},"originalEdition":"us","isMapi":false,"isAmp":false,"isVideoEntry":false,"isEntry":true,"isMt":false,"entryId":"5a205f2de4b03c44072c0943","entryPermalink":"https://action.news/entry/la-weekly-mystery-owner-layoffs_n_5a205f2de4b03c44072c0943","entryTagsList":"media,journalism,la-weekly,local-news,oc-weekly,@health_ibs,@health_models","sectionSlug":"media","deptSlug":"politics-news","sectionRedirectUrl":null,"subcategories":"business","isWide":false,"headerOverride":null,"noVideoAds":false,"disableFloat":false,"isNative":false,"commercialVideo":{"provider":"custom","site_and_category":"us.media","package":null},"isHighline":false,"vidibleConfigValues":{"cid":"60afc111dcf87c2cd2f5d8bf","overrides":{"front_page_top_videos":{"desktop":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","mobileweb":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d"},"top_media":{"desktop":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","mobile":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"anthology":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"content":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"}},"playerUpdates":{"5668ae6ee4b0b5e26955d6a6":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","56aa41bae4b091744c0440d8":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81","5841b2b5cc52c716ec6e5a7f":"60b8e355cdd90620331ba185","58b5e2b8d85a10302feee895":"60b64316b171b7444beafdb2","58b74698f78ced31417819ae":"60b8e5bec5449357a7ad9b52","58b74ccecebcea57e2c3a3d1":"60b8e5eac5449357a7ad9ca5","58cff690d85a100b9992bc39":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","58cffb3fb6d9b972a49a3c9d":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","58cffdd74d96935d7d6ec180":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","58d03a84f78ced6518eb2fa7":"60b643c82e76be41f112735c","592edf20e0fa177b0c26f7fd":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","5b35266b158f855373e28256":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","5c116f29f79c4171d82b7c2a":"60b64440b171b7444beb040b","5c1170fc600c9a697bf0c6b9":"60b646102e76be41f1127ffc","5c47791afa1b317df8ae0c4f":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","5c477987a6b48b35f164773d":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","5c4779ee943c3c2a64f28371":"60b8e747cdd90620331bb861","5c477a26fcd67b26879bc7c2":"60b8e788c5449357a7ada67b","5d8921a78c3ae845f366c9b6":"60ae7be5f3a7c13a30417ff9","58b98b00ba82aa39a6534321":"60d0de7c9340d7032ad1146c","58b9d14cb6d9b96c9ec32af3":"60d0dec19340d7032ad115a0","58cff8eccebcea42931e0436":"60d0e005b627221e9d819d44","592edf5de0fa177b0c26f95b":"60d0e38fb627221e9d81adcf","58cff72fd85a100b9992c112":"60d0e447b627221e9d81b0da","56b4d34fe4b022697697c400":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","60b8e4c0c5449357a7ad957d":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81"}},"connatixConfigValues":{"defaultPlayer":"ff7fdddc-5441-4253-abc4-f12a33fad58b","clickToPlayPlayer":"d014396e-b366-4c17-aeac-3ce906fa3fd0","videoPagePlayer":"f010447b-d244-4111-a314-7b4542ae4145","verticalPlayer":"e58cb05a-0bc8-4210-9108-fea82726c065","stickyPlayerControl":"52ea1755-d601-4ad1-bccc-d8cce3f0e5da","stickyPlayerON":"8055e9e5-3bda-4933-8d45-9ad814fb6e22"},"topConnatixThumnbailSrc":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=","customAmpComponents":[],"ampAssetsUrl":"https://amp.assets.huffpost.com","videoTraits":null,"positionInUnitCounts":{"buzz_head":{"count":0},"buzz_body":{"count":0},"buzz_bottom":{"count":0}},"positionInSubUnitCounts":{"article_body":{"count":7},"blog_summary":{"count":0},"before_you_go_content":{"count":0}},"connatixCountsHelper":{"count":1},"buzzfeedTracking":{"context_page_id":"5a205f2de4b03c44072c0943","context_page_type":"buzz","destination":"huffpost","mode":"mobile","page_edition":"en-us"},"tags":[{"name":"media","slug":"media","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/media","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/media","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/media"},"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Media","slug":"media"},"topic":{"title":"Media","slug":"media","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/media"},{"name":"Journalism","slug":"journalism","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/journalism","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/journalism","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/journalism"},"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Media","slug":"media"},"topic":{"title":"Journalism","slug":"journalism","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/journalism"},{"name":"LA Weekly","slug":"la-weekly","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/la-weekly","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/la-weekly","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/la-weekly"},"relegenceId":3293365,"url":"https://action.news/topic/la-weekly"},{"name":"local news","slug":"local-news","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/local-news","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/local-news","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/local-news"},"url":"https://action.news/topic/local-news"},{"name":"OC Weekly","slug":"oc-weekly","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/oc-weekly","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/oc-weekly","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/oc-weekly"},"relegenceId":5544818,"url":"https://action.news/topic/oc-weekly"}],"isLiveblogLive":null,"isLiveblog":false,"cetUnit":"buzz_body","bodyAds":["\r\n\r\n","\r\n\r\n","\r\n\r\n"],"adCount":0},"isCollectionEmbed":false,"enhancements":{}}">Im still shell shocked after yesterdays incomprehensible, daringly dumb, lets be legends layoffs, but thank you for all kind words and notes. It was an honor to write for this storied publication. To be a footnote in its history is a dream come true. Farewell, old pal. RIP pic.twitter.com/Fdf11nj92g
April Wolfe (@AWolfeful) November 30, 2017
We were expecting there to be some pain with the sale of @LAWeekly. But we weren't expecting the Red Wedding. That's how deep the cuts are. 1/
Mara Shalhoup (@mshalhoup) November 29, 2017","type":"rich","meta":{"author":"Mara Shalhoup","author_url":"https://twitter.com/mshalhoup","cache_age":86400,"description":"We were expecting there to be some pain with the sale of @LAWeekly. But we weren't expecting the Red Wedding. That's how deep the cuts are. 1/ Mara Shalhoup (@mshalhoup) November 29, 2017\n\n","provider_name":"Twitter","title":"Mara Shalhoup on Twitter","type":"rich","url":"https://twitter.com/mshalhoup/status/936017786718924800","version":"1.0"},"flags":[],"fullBleed":false,"options":{"theme":"news","device":"mobile","editionInfo":{"id":"us","name":"U.S.","link":"https://action.news","locale":"en_US"},"originalEdition":"us","isMapi":false,"isAmp":false,"isVideoEntry":false,"isEntry":true,"isMt":false,"entryId":"5a205f2de4b03c44072c0943","entryPermalink":"https://action.news/entry/la-weekly-mystery-owner-layoffs_n_5a205f2de4b03c44072c0943","entryTagsList":"media,journalism,la-weekly,local-news,oc-weekly,@health_ibs,@health_models","sectionSlug":"media","deptSlug":"politics-news","sectionRedirectUrl":null,"subcategories":"business","isWide":false,"headerOverride":null,"noVideoAds":false,"disableFloat":false,"isNative":false,"commercialVideo":{"provider":"custom","site_and_category":"us.media","package":null},"isHighline":false,"vidibleConfigValues":{"cid":"60afc111dcf87c2cd2f5d8bf","overrides":{"front_page_top_videos":{"desktop":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","mobileweb":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d"},"top_media":{"desktop":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","mobile":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"anthology":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"content":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"}},"playerUpdates":{"5668ae6ee4b0b5e26955d6a6":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","56aa41bae4b091744c0440d8":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81","5841b2b5cc52c716ec6e5a7f":"60b8e355cdd90620331ba185","58b5e2b8d85a10302feee895":"60b64316b171b7444beafdb2","58b74698f78ced31417819ae":"60b8e5bec5449357a7ad9b52","58b74ccecebcea57e2c3a3d1":"60b8e5eac5449357a7ad9ca5","58cff690d85a100b9992bc39":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","58cffb3fb6d9b972a49a3c9d":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","58cffdd74d96935d7d6ec180":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","58d03a84f78ced6518eb2fa7":"60b643c82e76be41f112735c","592edf20e0fa177b0c26f7fd":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","5b35266b158f855373e28256":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","5c116f29f79c4171d82b7c2a":"60b64440b171b7444beb040b","5c1170fc600c9a697bf0c6b9":"60b646102e76be41f1127ffc","5c47791afa1b317df8ae0c4f":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","5c477987a6b48b35f164773d":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","5c4779ee943c3c2a64f28371":"60b8e747cdd90620331bb861","5c477a26fcd67b26879bc7c2":"60b8e788c5449357a7ada67b","5d8921a78c3ae845f366c9b6":"60ae7be5f3a7c13a30417ff9","58b98b00ba82aa39a6534321":"60d0de7c9340d7032ad1146c","58b9d14cb6d9b96c9ec32af3":"60d0dec19340d7032ad115a0","58cff8eccebcea42931e0436":"60d0e005b627221e9d819d44","592edf5de0fa177b0c26f95b":"60d0e38fb627221e9d81adcf","58cff72fd85a100b9992c112":"60d0e447b627221e9d81b0da","56b4d34fe4b022697697c400":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","60b8e4c0c5449357a7ad957d":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81"}},"connatixConfigValues":{"defaultPlayer":"ff7fdddc-5441-4253-abc4-f12a33fad58b","clickToPlayPlayer":"d014396e-b366-4c17-aeac-3ce906fa3fd0","videoPagePlayer":"f010447b-d244-4111-a314-7b4542ae4145","verticalPlayer":"e58cb05a-0bc8-4210-9108-fea82726c065","stickyPlayerControl":"52ea1755-d601-4ad1-bccc-d8cce3f0e5da","stickyPlayerON":"8055e9e5-3bda-4933-8d45-9ad814fb6e22"},"topConnatixThumnbailSrc":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=","customAmpComponents":[],"ampAssetsUrl":"https://amp.assets.huffpost.com","videoTraits":null,"positionInUnitCounts":{"buzz_head":{"count":0},"buzz_body":{"count":0},"buzz_bottom":{"count":0}},"positionInSubUnitCounts":{"article_body":{"count":7},"blog_summary":{"count":0},"before_you_go_content":{"count":0}},"connatixCountsHelper":{"count":1},"buzzfeedTracking":{"context_page_id":"5a205f2de4b03c44072c0943","context_page_type":"buzz","destination":"huffpost","mode":"mobile","page_edition":"en-us"},"tags":[{"name":"media","slug":"media","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/media","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/media","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/media"},"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Media","slug":"media"},"topic":{"title":"Media","slug":"media","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/media"},{"name":"Journalism","slug":"journalism","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/journalism","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/journalism","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/journalism"},"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Media","slug":"media"},"topic":{"title":"Journalism","slug":"journalism","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/journalism"},{"name":"LA Weekly","slug":"la-weekly","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/la-weekly","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/la-weekly","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/la-weekly"},"relegenceId":3293365,"url":"https://action.news/topic/la-weekly"},{"name":"local news","slug":"local-news","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/local-news","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/local-news","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/local-news"},"url":"https://action.news/topic/local-news"},{"name":"OC Weekly","slug":"oc-weekly","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/oc-weekly","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/oc-weekly","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/oc-weekly"},"relegenceId":5544818,"url":"https://action.news/topic/oc-weekly"}],"isLiveblogLive":null,"isLiveblog":false,"cetUnit":"buzz_body","bodyAds":["\r\n\r\n","\r\n\r\n","\r\n\r\n"],"adCount":0},"isCollectionEmbed":false,"enhancements":{}}">We were expecting there to be some pain with the sale of @LAWeekly . But we weren't expecting the Red Wedding. That's how deep the cuts are. 1/
Mara Shalhoup (@mshalhoup) November 29, 2017
Humbled by all the kind words coming my way and to all my amazing colleagues at LA Weekly. Thanks to everyone who took the time to read us. Keep supporting independent journalism. We need it more than ever.
Andy Hermann (@AndyHermannLA) November 30, 2017","type":"rich","meta":{"author":"Andy Hermann","author_url":"https://twitter.com/AndyHermannLA","cache_age":86400,"description":"Humbled by all the kind words coming my way and to all my amazing colleagues at LA Weekly. Thanks to everyone who took the time to read us. Keep supporting independent journalism. We need it more than ever. Andy Hermann (@AndyHermannLA) November 30, 2017\n\n","provider_name":"Twitter","title":"Andy Hermann on Twitter","type":"rich","url":"https://twitter.com/AndyHermannLA/status/936115111109935104","version":"1.0"},"flags":[],"fullBleed":false,"options":{"theme":"news","device":"mobile","editionInfo":{"id":"us","name":"U.S.","link":"https://action.news","locale":"en_US"},"originalEdition":"us","isMapi":false,"isAmp":false,"isVideoEntry":false,"isEntry":true,"isMt":false,"entryId":"5a205f2de4b03c44072c0943","entryPermalink":"https://action.news/entry/la-weekly-mystery-owner-layoffs_n_5a205f2de4b03c44072c0943","entryTagsList":"media,journalism,la-weekly,local-news,oc-weekly,@health_ibs,@health_models","sectionSlug":"media","deptSlug":"politics-news","sectionRedirectUrl":null,"subcategories":"business","isWide":false,"headerOverride":null,"noVideoAds":false,"disableFloat":false,"isNative":false,"commercialVideo":{"provider":"custom","site_and_category":"us.media","package":null},"isHighline":false,"vidibleConfigValues":{"cid":"60afc111dcf87c2cd2f5d8bf","overrides":{"front_page_top_videos":{"desktop":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","mobileweb":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d"},"top_media":{"desktop":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","mobile":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"anthology":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"content":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"}},"playerUpdates":{"5668ae6ee4b0b5e26955d6a6":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","56aa41bae4b091744c0440d8":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81","5841b2b5cc52c716ec6e5a7f":"60b8e355cdd90620331ba185","58b5e2b8d85a10302feee895":"60b64316b171b7444beafdb2","58b74698f78ced31417819ae":"60b8e5bec5449357a7ad9b52","58b74ccecebcea57e2c3a3d1":"60b8e5eac5449357a7ad9ca5","58cff690d85a100b9992bc39":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","58cffb3fb6d9b972a49a3c9d":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","58cffdd74d96935d7d6ec180":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","58d03a84f78ced6518eb2fa7":"60b643c82e76be41f112735c","592edf20e0fa177b0c26f7fd":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","5b35266b158f855373e28256":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","5c116f29f79c4171d82b7c2a":"60b64440b171b7444beb040b","5c1170fc600c9a697bf0c6b9":"60b646102e76be41f1127ffc","5c47791afa1b317df8ae0c4f":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","5c477987a6b48b35f164773d":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","5c4779ee943c3c2a64f28371":"60b8e747cdd90620331bb861","5c477a26fcd67b26879bc7c2":"60b8e788c5449357a7ada67b","5d8921a78c3ae845f366c9b6":"60ae7be5f3a7c13a30417ff9","58b98b00ba82aa39a6534321":"60d0de7c9340d7032ad1146c","58b9d14cb6d9b96c9ec32af3":"60d0dec19340d7032ad115a0","58cff8eccebcea42931e0436":"60d0e005b627221e9d819d44","592edf5de0fa177b0c26f95b":"60d0e38fb627221e9d81adcf","58cff72fd85a100b9992c112":"60d0e447b627221e9d81b0da","56b4d34fe4b022697697c400":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","60b8e4c0c5449357a7ad957d":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81"}},"connatixConfigValues":{"defaultPlayer":"ff7fdddc-5441-4253-abc4-f12a33fad58b","clickToPlayPlayer":"d014396e-b366-4c17-aeac-3ce906fa3fd0","videoPagePlayer":"f010447b-d244-4111-a314-7b4542ae4145","verticalPlayer":"e58cb05a-0bc8-4210-9108-fea82726c065","stickyPlayerControl":"52ea1755-d601-4ad1-bccc-d8cce3f0e5da","stickyPlayerON":"8055e9e5-3bda-4933-8d45-9ad814fb6e22"},"topConnatixThumnbailSrc":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=","customAmpComponents":[],"ampAssetsUrl":"https://amp.assets.huffpost.com","videoTraits":null,"positionInUnitCounts":{"buzz_head":{"count":0},"buzz_body":{"count":0},"buzz_bottom":{"count":0}},"positionInSubUnitCounts":{"article_body":{"count":7},"blog_summary":{"count":0},"before_you_go_content":{"count":0}},"connatixCountsHelper":{"count":1},"buzzfeedTracking":{"context_page_id":"5a205f2de4b03c44072c0943","context_page_type":"buzz","destination":"huffpost","mode":"mobile","page_edition":"en-us"},"tags":[{"name":"media","slug":"media","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/media","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/media","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/media"},"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Media","slug":"media"},"topic":{"title":"Media","slug":"media","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/media"},{"name":"Journalism","slug":"journalism","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/journalism","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/journalism","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/journalism"},"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Media","slug":"media"},"topic":{"title":"Journalism","slug":"journalism","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/journalism"},{"name":"LA Weekly","slug":"la-weekly","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/la-weekly","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/la-weekly","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/la-weekly"},"relegenceId":3293365,"url":"https://action.news/topic/la-weekly"},{"name":"local news","slug":"local-news","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/local-news","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/local-news","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/local-news"},"url":"https://action.news/topic/local-news"},{"name":"OC Weekly","slug":"oc-weekly","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/oc-weekly","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/oc-weekly","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/oc-weekly"},"relegenceId":5544818,"url":"https://action.news/topic/oc-weekly"}],"isLiveblogLive":null,"isLiveblog":false,"cetUnit":"buzz_body","bodyAds":["\r\n\r\n","\r\n\r\n","\r\n\r\n"],"adCount":0},"isCollectionEmbed":false,"enhancements":{}}">Humbled by all the kind words coming my way and to all my amazing colleagues at LA Weekly. Thanks to everyone who took the time to read us. Keep supporting independent journalism. We need it more than ever.
Andy Hermann (@AndyHermannLA) November 30, 2017
Digs into Semanal have turned up limited information. David Welch, a lawyer known in Southern California for suing unlicensed cannabis dispensaries , is listed as the registered agent in the California Secretary of State Business Database, according to LA Weeklys sister site OC Weekly. Brian Calle, chief opinion writer for Southern California News Group, will take over editorial management of the site, the outlet also confirmed .
Support Free Journalism
Consider supporting HuffPost starting at $2 to help us provide free, quality journalism that puts people first.
Can't afford to contribute? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. We hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.
Last year, OC Weekly named Calle one of Orange Countys Scariest People of 2016, pointing to his role in a number of blunders at his previous post.
Its been a trying month for local news. Earlier this month, Joe Ricketts, the billionaire CEO of news organizations DNAinfo, Gothamist and its sister sites , shut down the sites without warning just days after a number of staff members announced they had formed a union. The decision put 115 journalists out of work left a gaping hole in coverage in the cities those outlets covered: New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago and Washington.
Support Free Journalism
Consider supporting HuffPost starting at $2 to help us provide free, quality journalism that puts people first.
Can't afford to contribute? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. We hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.
_(720p).jpg)
 OFFICIAL HD MUSIC VIDEO.jpg)
.jpg)
