Editorial Board Shake-up: Resignations Rock Los Angeles Times Amid Controversial Endorsement Ban
Two Esteemed Journalists Bid Farewell After Editorial Endorsement Block
Two prominent members of the Los Angeles Times editorial board, Robert Greene and Karin Klein, have resigned following newspaper owner Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong’s decision to prevent the board from endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election. Their resignations come shortly after editorial page editor Mariel Garza’s departure in protest, intensifying a ripple of dissent within the paper’s editorial ranks.
Greene, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, voiced his disappointment in a statement, underscoring his commitment to journalism’s dedication to truth and democracy—principles he felt were undermined by the choice to remain neutral. “It hurt particularly,” Greene wrote, “because one of the candidates, Donald Trump, has demonstrated hostility to principles central to journalism—respect for the truth and reverence for democracy.”
Proposed Endorsement of Harris Stifled
Garza revealed that she had begun drafting an editorial endorsing Harris, aligning with the board’s intended stance, but Soon-Shiong halted the piece. “I am resigning to clarify that I am not OK with us being silent,” Garza stated. She argued that silence was unacceptable in what she deemed “dangerous times.”
The board had planned a series of editorials leading to a Harris endorsement, according to editorial writer Tony Barboza, who expressed frustration over the “mischaracterization” of the board’s intentions and Soon-Shiong’s portrayal of the decision as the board’s choice.
Owner Advocates for Balanced Policy Analysis
In a public response, Soon-Shiong shared his view, explaining his preference for balanced analysis over endorsement. He argued that a detailed comparison of both candidates’ records would better serve readers, aiming to prevent further polarization. “As an owner, I shared with our editors the idea of presenting all the pros and all the cons and letting the readers decide,” Soon-Shiong explained, emphasizing his desire for the paper to foster inclusivity on its opinion pages.
Klein, who also stepped down, shared her dissatisfaction with Soon-Shiong’s approach in a Facebook statement, asserting that the board’s purpose is not neutral analysis but rather to take a clear stand. Klein saw her resignation as a response to the perceived shift in the board’s editorial mission.
Debate Over Editorial Role
Soon-Shiong, positioning himself as a proponent of journalistic impartiality, has sparked broader discussions in the media regarding endorsement policies and objectivity. In an interview, Soon-Shiong emphasized his preference for offering readers an impartial perspective, adding that he wants “desperately to air all voices.”
This ideological divide has left the Los Angeles Times at a crossroads, with its editorial board reshaped by a significant schism between ownership and the journalistic voices advocating for an explicit endorsement.