In a significant shift in editorial direction, six members of the Los Angeles Times’ editorial team resigned in protest after owner Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong implemented changes aimed at diversifying the paper’s opinion coverage.
The resignations, including that of editorials editor Mariel Garza, followed Soon-Shiong’s decision to block an endorsement for Democrat Kamala Harris during the presidential elections last fall.
Critics argue that Soon-Shiong is attempting to align the Times’ editorial stance more closely with right-leaning perspectives, a move that some believe will cater to views commonly associated with former President Donald Trump.
The Los Angeles Times is known for its liberal editorial pages, but Soon-Shiong expressed a desire for a broader representation of political viewpoints.
In a recent colorful commentary for the Times, Matt K. Lewis emphasized the callousness that he perceives as a hallmark of Trump’s second administration, particularly in relation to policies on deportation and bureaucratic cutbacks.
Lewis concluded his piece, stating, “Once you normalize cruelty, the hammer eventually swings for everyone. Even the ones who thought they were swinging it.”
Additionally, the Times introduced a new digital feature called “Insights,” which offers an AI-generated summary of editorial pieces and provides a contrasting viewpoint labeled as an opposing argument.
This initiative has sparked discussions about its implications for public discourse. One dissenting argument to Lewis’ commentary framed immigration policy changes as measures aimed at correcting exploitation of immigration loopholes, which proponents argue protects American workers and resources.
Soon-Shiong, who acquired the Times in 2018, stated his conviction that an echo chamber, representing only one political side, is detrimental to public dialogue.
He articulated his belief in the importance of ensuring all voices are heard, even if it entails facing criticism.
This philosophy led to the mass resignation of the Times’ editorial staff, with three of the editorial team members quitting after the Harris non-endorsement.
The last holdout, Carla Hall, submitted her resignation following a column published on March 30 about her experiences covering homelessness.
The outcome was reminiscent of the subscriber backlash faced by the Washington Post when owner Jeff Bezos made a similar decision regarding political endorsement.
Historically, the Times published unsigned editorials six days a week, representing the newspaper’s institutional stance.
However, only two editorial board members are currently listed: Soon-Shiong and executive editor Terry Tang, who often have limited time for writing editorials.
Soon-Shiong has indicated a commitment to appointing new editorial board members, though a timeline for this remains uncertain.
There are ongoing discussions about bringing in more conservative or moderate columnists to the paper, with Lewis expressing that he may be part of this initiative.
During an interview, Lewis, a Reagan Republican, revealed he found the new “Insights” feature to be beneficial as it offers additional context and fair counterpoints for readers.
In a recent take on a column by Gustavo Arellano regarding a Ku Klux Klan rally’s centennial, the AI-generated summary faced backlash for its framing of the Klan as a product of “white Protestant culture.”
The mixed reviews surrounding the Insights feature, including an offensive tone in some AI-generated opposing viewpoints, have led to questions about its effectiveness.
Many, including Garza, criticize the bias meter concept for oversimplifying complex opinions and potentially insulting readers’ intelligence.
Garza remarked that labeling opinions in this manner overlooks the readers’ ability to engage with nuanced arguments and ideas.
Paul Thornton, a former opinion section letters editor at the Times, argued that improving opinion offerings would be better achieved through hiring more journalists and expanding their reporting capabilities.
In the face of the criticism directed at Soon-Shiong’s decisions, media columnist Margaret Sullivan suggested that the push for viewpoint diversity is more to appease conservative audiences and distance from perceived liberal bias.
Soon-Shiong’s responses indicate that he is adamant about fostering healthy discourse. He emphasized the importance of working toward healing national polarization, highlighting the value of diverse opinions in this quest.
Lewis, while noting his somewhat bemused reaction to being labeled “center-left” in the Insights feature, believes it ultimately underscores the limited relevance of such political classifications.
”I guess I’m a center-left columnist,” he commented, acknowledging this label’s arbitrary nature depending on the context of his writing.
As these editorial resignations and subsequent changes at the Los Angeles Times unfold, the future of its opinion pages may shape the newspaper’s role in representing varied political opinions in an increasingly polarized media landscape.
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