Tronc probing L.A. Times boss for prior sex harass

THE PARENT COMPANY of the Los Angeles Times has launched an investigation into the paper’s CEO and publisher after learning of allegations of inappropriate workplace behavior and settlements in sexual harassment lawsuits.

Ross Levinsohn (below), who was named CEO and publisher of the Times in August, was hit in two sexual harassment lawsuits while he was an executive at other corporations, NPR reported Thursday.

Tronc, owner of the Times as well as the Daily News, issued a statement in response to the NPR report.

“This week, we became aware of allegations that Ross Levinsohn acted inappropriately. We are immediately launching an investigation so that we have a better understanding of what’s occurred,” a spokeswoman said. “At tronc, we expect all employees to act in a way that supports a culture of diversity and inclusion. We will take appropriate action to address any behavior that falls short of these expectations.”

Levinsohn, 54, admitted in sworn testimony as part of one of the harassment cases that he rated the “hotness” and bodies of women he worked with. That happened when he was vice president at digital media company Alta Vista in 2001, NPR said.

He also testified that he speculated to co-workers about whether one of his employees was a stripper on the side and if she had slept with another colleague, NPR reported. “Ross was creating a frat house environment,” former Alta Vista executive Celia Francis testified at the time.

The case was settled in 2002 and Levinsohn went on to work at Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. He was named in another lawsuit filed by a woman who alleged sexual harassment was common in the environment fostered by Levinsohn and other male leaders. That, too, was settled.

The NPR report was based on interviews with 26 former colleagues, lawsuits and financial filings.

Levinsohn, known for throwing lavish parties — some of them on yachts and with paid models — went on to work at Yahoo and then for the owners of The Hollywood Reporter. It was there, in March 2013, that Levinsohn allegedly told an executive he didn’t want to stay at a company event about fashion because he would be surrounded by “f--s,” using an anti-gay slur, NPR said.

Employees at the Times who are leading a charge to join the NewsGuild said Levinsohn should “resign or be fired immediately.” Federal regulators will announce on Friday the results of the vote to unionize.

After NPR’s report, 12 senior editors at The Times in a statement said they are “deeply concerned” about the revelations.