CHANDLER, NORMAN

born Sept. 14, 1899, Los Angeles, Calif., U.S. died Oct. 20, 1973, Los Angeles American newspaper publisher who helped change the Los Angeles Times from a conservative regional journal to one of the largest and most influential newspapers in the world. Chandler was the son of Harry Chandler, who owned the Los Angeles Times. After attending Stanford University, Norman joined the Times in 1922 as secretary to his father. He became president and general manager of the paper in 1941. In 1960 he stepped aside as publisher in favour of his son, Otis. In 1966 he became chairman of the board and chief executive officer of the parent Times Mirror Company. He modernized the Times Mirror Company's operation and made the Times one of the most automated newspapers in the United States. After he relinquished the day-to-day operations of the Times in 1960, Norman Chandler concentrated on expansion and diversification, buying the daily Newsday in Garden City, N.Y., the Orange Coast Daily Pilot in Orange County, Cal., and the Dallas Times Herald. Chandler's son Otis became assistant to the president of the Mirror-News in 1957. (Its publication was subsequently suspended.) In 1960 he succeeded his father as publisher of the Times. Under Otis's direction the still-conservative newspaper also gave more space to liberal and opposing viewpoints.