Billionaire Owner of Los Angeles Times Blocks Kamala Harris Endorsement, Leading to Editor's Resignation

 

Patrick Soon-Shiong, the billionaire owner of the Los Angeles Times, has come under fire after blocking the paper’s editorial board from endorsing Kamala Harris for president. This decision prompted Mariel Garza, a veteran journalist and former editor of the paper’s opinion section, to resign in protest.

In an interview with the Columbia Journalism Review (CJR), Garza expressed her dismay over Soon-Shiong's intervention, stating, "In dangerous times, honest people need to stand up. This is how I’m standing up." Garza, who had been with the Times for nearly a decade, described the decision as perplexing, noting that the newspaper had previously endorsed Harris in her races for California attorney general and U.S. Senate.

In response to the controversy, Soon-Shiong took to social media, defending his decision. He explained that the Times editorial board had rejected his proposal to present a balanced analysis of both presidential candidates' policies instead of a traditional endorsement. "Instead of adopting this path, the editorial board chose to remain silent, and I accepted their decision," Soon-Shiong wrote.

The decision has sparked criticism from the Los Angeles Times Guild, the union representing the paper’s staff. The Guild expressed concern that Soon-Shiong had blocked the endorsement and was now blaming the editorial board for his decision. "We are still pressing for answers from newsroom management on behalf of our members," the union said in a statement.

While Soon-Shiong did not provide specific reasons for blocking the endorsement, Garza believes the decision undermines the credibility of the editorial board's future political recommendations. She added that the non-endorsement sent a confusing message to readers, especially considering the paper’s history of supporting Harris.

This incident also appeared to affect the paper’s readership, as reports indicated an increase in subscription cancellations following the non-endorsement. Semafor, a media outlet, reported that cancellations were double the usual rate, with nearly 400 subscribers citing "editorial content" as their reason for leaving.

The move has ignited further debate over the role of billionaire media owners in shaping the political coverage of major publications, particularly in the current polarized political climate.