LA Times Owner Tells Editorial Board To ‘Take A Break’ From Trump Stories

The Los Angeles Times has been at the center of a growing controversy after its billionaire owner, Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, was accused of interfering in editorial content, specifically targeting the newspaper’s coverage of President-elect Donald Trump. Staffers have voiced their concerns about what they describe as “meddling” in editorial decisions, but outside the media world, many are praising Soon-Shiong for taking steps to restore journalistic integrity and steer the paper away from its left-leaning bias.

Soon-Shiong, who purchased the LA Times in 2018, has been increasingly involved in shaping the direction of its editorial content. His intervention has raised eyebrows, particularly among staffers, who argue that his actions are limiting their ability to cover controversial issues without external influence. However, many outside the newsroom have applauded the billionaire’s efforts to bring balance back to a publication that some believe has allowed leftist ideologies to run unchecked for years.

According to reports, Soon-Shiong has imposed new editorial policies aimed at creating more ideological balance. The most notable change involves a restriction on publishing anti-Trump editorials without including an article that explains the other side of the issue. This move, which has reportedly led to the suppression or delay of several editorials, was described in an internal memo as a “new policy” intended to provide balance in the paper’s coverage of the President-elect.

Soon-Shiong has also been requiring the editorial board to send him the text of every editorial, along with the name of the writer, before publication. This increased oversight has raised concerns among staffers about retaliation and censorship. However, to many outside the newsroom, the idea of reining in editorial content to create a more balanced perspective is seen as a positive development. For years, the LA Times has been criticized for its consistent left-leaning slant, which critics argue has tainted its reputation for impartiality.

While some staff members view Soon-Shiong’s involvement as unwelcome interference, many observers from outside the media industry are praising his actions as a necessary course correction. The LA Times, which once had a reputation for producing rigorous, independent journalism, has increasingly been viewed as a vehicle for leftist dogma. Under the ownership of Soon-Shiong, who has vowed to restore balance, the newspaper’s editorial decisions are being scrutinized more carefully to ensure they reflect a wider range of perspectives.

Soon-Shiong himself has explained that the editorial board’s political orientation had become “very left” and that in order to ensure balance, the paper needed to embrace voices from across the political spectrum. This idea of balancing left-leaning viewpoints with those from the right and center is exactly what many believe the LA Times needs to regain its credibility and relevance.

Soon-Shiong’s implementation of a “bias meter” to evaluate the ideological tilt of articles is another move that has been applauded by those who believe the establishment media has become an echochamber. This “bias meter” will add a layer of transparency by more accurately labeling articles, which could go a long way in rebuilding public trust in the LA Times.