Loyal Durand “L.D.” Hotchkiss (November 25, 1893 – April 15, 1964) was an American newspaper journalist who served as the editor-in-chief of the Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Times

The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....

.

The son of Willis M. and Jan Margaret (Ritchie) Hotchkiss, he was born in Bloomfield, Iowa

Bloomfield, Iowa

Bloomfield is a city in Davis County, Iowa, United States. The population was 2,601 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Davis County.-Geography:Bloomfield is located in the southeastern part of Iowa near the Missouri border....

, where he attended public school. In 1916, he graduated from the University of Iowa

University of Iowa

The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...

.

Hotchkiss worked at the Des Moines Daily News, the Rockwell City (IA) Advocate, the Des Moines Capital and the Des Moines Register-Tribune. In 1920, he moved to California where he worked for William Randolph Hearst

William Randolph Hearst

William Randolph Hearst was an American business magnate and leading newspaper publisher. Hearst entered the publishing business in 1887, after taking control of The San Francisco Examiner from his father...

’s Los Angeles Examiner. Two years later he moved across town to work for Harry Chandler

Harry Chandler

Harry Chandler was an American newspaper publisher and investor who became owner of the largest real estate empire in the U.S.-Biography:...

’s Los Angeles Times, where he would stay for the next 36 years. In 1926, Hotchkiss was named city editor. He became assistant managing editor in 1933, managing editor in 1934, editor in 1945 and editor-in-chief in 1957. Hotchkiss retired in 1958.

In 1938, Hotchkiss, his publisher Norman Chandler

Norman Chandler

Norman Chandler was the publisher of the Los Angeles Times from 1945 to 1960, and largely responsible for the success of the newspaper.-Education:...

, and the Times-Mirror Company (owner of the Los Angeles Times) were jointly found guilty of contempt of court

Contempt of court

Contempt of court is a court order which, in the context of a court trial or hearing, declares a person or organization to have disobeyed or been disrespectful of the court's authority...

 for editorials that commented on pending court cases. The Times took its fight for freedom of the press to the U.S. Supreme Court

Supreme Court of the United States

The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...

, where the newspaper was vindicated on December 8, 1941. The newspaper was awarded the 1942 Pulitzer Prize

1942 Pulitzer Prize

-Journalism awards:*Public Service:** Los Angeles Times for its successful campaign which resulted in the clarification and confirmation for all American newspapers of the right of free press as guaranteed under the Constitution.*Reporting:...

 for Public Service "for its successful campaign which resulted in the clarification and confirmation for all American newspapers of the right of free press

Freedom of the press

Freedom of the press or freedom of the media is the freedom of communication and expression through vehicles including various electronic media and published materials...

 as guaranteed under the Constitution."