Publishing: Impressive Acquisition

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PUBLISHING Impressive Acuisition The Los Angeles Times Mirror Co.

has been rapidly acquiring sizable chunks of the "knowledge industry."

Atop its sturdy base, the Los Angeles Times (circ. 861,350), it has added magazines and book-publishing companies, including the New American Library.

Last week it acquired another portion of the knowledge industry. As new chairman of the board and chief executive officer, Times Mirror selected Franklin Murphy, 52, chancellor of the University of California at Los Angeles.

Murphy is one educator who really deserves the title "doctor." He started as a physician in Kansas, became dean of the University of Kansas medical school, later rose to chancellor of the university. While serving on Government and private cultural committees, he has been a director of companies as diverse as the Ford Motor Co., McCall Corp. and Hallmark Cards Inc.

In his eight years as chancellor, U.C.L.A. has dramatically expanded: student enrollment has risen by more than a half, to 29,070. Murphy added 38 new buildings, created ten interdisciplinary study centers. Nonetheless, Murphy is more than willing to make the shift to the Times. "You reach a point," he says, "where your physical and emotional commitment is at a maxi mum, where there is nothing more to give, and then you know it is time to try something else." Though Murphy had been offered other jobs in business, he turned them all down. "What pushed me over the cliff this time," he says, "is that this is the kind of business I've always been in—communications and education."

The change in command at the Times does not mean that the'Chandler family has lost any interest in the company. Norman Chandler, 68, who had grown weary of the top job's demanding pace, moves to a less arduous post as chairman of the executive committee. His son Otis, who becomes vice chairman of the board, will continue to publish the Times—which has vastly improved under his regime. And at 40, Otis still has plenty of years left to become chairman himself.