Jon Thurber, Managing Editor / Print

Jon Thurber was named managing editor/print in July 2009. Thurber, a 38-year veteran of the Los Angeles Times, has primary responsibility for coordinating and carrying out the content plans for the newspaper and other print products produced by the newsroom, including overseeing the front page and the Page A1 desk.

He works closely with Sean Gallagher, managing editor/online, and with The Times’ section editors to ensure that the needs of the paper and the website are being met and that coverage on these platforms is complementary.

Thurber has served The Times across the newsroom, notably in building the obituary desk into one of the best in the country before assuming his current post.

He began as a copy boy and learned the craft of copy editing while working as a clerk on the Foreign desk. During 15 years there, he worked as a copy editor and news editor and as deputy editor of the weekly World Report section. He also filled in as A1 editor.

Thurber moved to Features in the early 1990s, where he was in charge of the news and copy desks and production, initially for the Calendar section and eventually for every feature section. He also edited Calendar’s jazz coverage, encouraging nontraditional stories on an underappreciated art form.

As obituary editor for 11 years, Thurber focused his staff on storytelling, producing coverage that was widely praised. He was recognized for his assignment editing with a Times editorial award. He also led by example, writing more than 400 obituaries during his time as editor. In 2007, Thurber served as one of the 28 members of The Times’ Reinvent Committee.

Thurber, a native of Los Angeles, grew up in South Pasadena and attended Pasadena City College, where he studied journalism. But generally, he says, his real education came from the people in the newsroom of the Los Angeles Times.

He lives in the Larchmont area of Los Angeles with his dog, Miles, whom he refers to as the bureau chief.