A media veteran who has worked at Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek and The New York Times, Mr. D’Vorkin was handpicked by Mr. Levinsohn. He has a somewhat unusual background for someone in his position. Before he joined The Los Angeles Times, Mr. D’Vorkin helped start the celebrity news site TMZ, and as the chief products officer at Forbes, he broadened the company’s native advertising offerings.

The editor and publisher had worked together previously: Mr. Levinsohn was a partner at a venture capital firm, Fuse Capital, that invested in a journalism company Mr. D’Vorkin started in the late 2000s called True/Slant.

Times journalists remain proud of their work. In addition to the Disney series, published in September, they pointed to recent articles about sexual harassment accusations against the Hollywood figures James Toback and Brett Ratner. (The articles were reported before Mr. D’Vorkin’s arrival.)

Tronc, which also publishes The Chicago Tribune and The Baltimore Sun, is optimistic that its Los Angeles property will one day draw a national and even an international audience. For now, it remains a regional newspaper with a declining readership and revenue.

Print advertising revenue at The Times through early September was down 20 percent from last year, according to a person briefed on the company’s financials, and digital advertising revenue had fallen by roughly 5 percent in the same period. What was once a staff of more than 1,000 now numbers roughly 400.

Against this backdrop, unionization efforts at The Times have gained traction. Last week, some reporters plastered their cubicles with signs saying they supported the NewsGuild-Communications Workers of America labor union.

Mr. Levinsohn, the publisher, said, “If the newsroom decides to unionize, that’s their call.” For now, he added, the leadership team is focused on building a new strategy and conveying that vision to employees.