Desperate over declining sales, the owner of the Los Angeles Times, Dr. Pat Soon-Shiong, abruptly fired the paper’s editorial board and said he would replace them with a more “balanced” set of writers and thinkers.
Soon-Shiong made the announcement on Wednesday, saying, “When the President has won the vote of the majority of Americans then ALL voices must be heard. Opinions are just that.”
“I will work towards making our paper and media fair and balanced so that all voices are heard and we can respectfully exchange every American’s view,” he added, emphasizing that diverse perspectives would include opinions “from left to right to the center,” he continued.
“Coming soon,” Soon-Shiong added. “A new Editorial Board. Trust in media is critical for a strong democracy.”
Proud that we posted this letter from one of our readers on X. When the President has won the vote of the majority of Americans then ALL voices must be heard. Opinions are just that. I will work towards making our paper and media fair and balanced so that all voices are heard…
— Dr. Pat Soon-Shiong (@DrPatSoonShiong) November 11, 2024
It is probably too late, of course. The Times,/i> has been famously and radically left-wing for decades. But, Soon-Shiong is right that something has to change in the legacy media.
It seems that his last straw may have been just before it was announced that the paper would not endorse a candidate for the 2024 election.
But probably not because they would have picked Harris if they did. If you read between the lines of what he said after the paper refused to make a 2024 endorsement, it looks like he was upset that they would not write a story telling readers of both the positive and the negative aspects of the two candidates.
According to NPR, this is what Soon-Shiong said after the paper announced it would not endorse anyone:
Publishers and owners have the right to weigh in on endorsements, of course, and often do so. This time, Soon-Shiong says he wanted something different.
Former President Donald Trump, wearing a suit and a red tie, stands behind a microphone to speak to supporters during a campaign event at Saginaw Valley State University in Michigan.
Investigations
Trump has made more than 100 threats to prosecute or punish perceived enemiesOn the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, he wrote that the assignment had been to provide “clear and non-partisan information side-by-side.”
“The Editorial Board was provided the opportunity to draft a factual analysis of all the POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE policies by EACH candidate during their tenures at the White House, and how these policies affected the nation,” Soon-Shiong wrote. “In addition, the Board was asked to provide their understanding of the policies and plans enunciated by the candidates during this campaign and its potential effect on the nation in the next four years.”
The editorial board refused to do a pro-con piece on Trump. They only wanted to endorse Harris and attack Donald Trump. To hell with what the owner wanted.
To me, anyway, that was likely the thing that spurred Soon-Shiong to fire them all.
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