Patrick Soon-Shiong is a well-known figure who made headlines for his success in the medical and business world. He made a fortune as a doctor and medical technology innovator, became a part owner of the Lakers, and brought the Los Angeles Times back under local control in 2018. However, his recent actions have caused controversy, such as blocking the Times editorial board from endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris and criticizing the paper for being left-leaning. He even announced plans to create a “bias meter” to alert readers about the paper’s ideological tilt.
These actions led to 20,000 subscribers canceling their subscriptions, with some praising Soon-Shiong for promoting a more balanced approach and others accusing him of caving to political pressure. In a recent interview, Soon-Shiong emphasized the importance of journalistic balance and his vision for the future of the paper.
Since purchasing the LA Times, Soon-Shiong has increased the number of paying digital subscribers and expanded the newsroom staff. However, the paper has still been losing money, leading to layoffs and financial challenges. Soon-Shiong expressed pride in the paper’s journalism but stressed the need to attract a larger audience and diversify the paper’s opinion pages.
He plans to introduce more moderate and conservative voices to counter the dominance of liberal writers. While he aims to ensure fairness and balance in the paper’s coverage, he does not intend to interfere with editorial decisions. Soon-Shiong, who previously focused on other businesses, now intends to play a more active role in guiding the paper’s future.
Despite facing financial losses and challenges, Soon-Shiong remains committed to The Times and its long-term success. He has invested heavily in the paper and hopes to increase its readership, particularly online. Ultimately, he sees ownership of the LA Times as part of his family’s legacy and is willing to continue funding it as long as he sees progress in attracting readers and building a sustainable future. The owner of The Times decided not to endorse Kamala Harris over Donald Trump in the presidential election, causing controversy within the newspaper. The owner believes that presenting a greater diversity of views is important for success. Most of the newspaper’s opinion columnists have been politically liberal, and the editorials have also leaned left, with sharp criticism of Trump. However, the owner wanted to take a different approach by providing readers with more information about the records of both candidates without recommending either. This decision led to resignations from the editorial board and backlash from readers.
In response to the backlash, the owner plans to revamp the editorial board by adding more moderate and conservative writers for ideological balance. One group will focus on local and California issues, while another will focus on national and international affairs. These changes aim to provide readers with a variety of perspectives and promote inclusivity. The owner hopes that these changes will help heal the nation and reduce polarization. Jennings praised the owner of the Times for focusing on diversity of opinions, calling it a significant step forward. Soon-Shiong, the owner, announced that he would take a more active role in the paper. He mentioned that he would leave certain topics to opinion writers while focusing on issues like cancer, climate change, energy, and national matters.
Recently, Soon-Shiong intervened in the publication of an editorial about Trump’s Cabinet appointments, insisting that it needed a companion piece with an opposing view. This led to a change in the editorial to focus on a different topic. Soon-Shiong also expressed concerns about opinion leaking into the news operation of The Times.
Despite some skepticism from journalists, Soon-Shiong emphasized the importance of journalistic integrity and transparency in reporting. He clarified some misconceptions about the departure of the paper’s executive editor and expressed confidence in the current executive editor, Terry Tang.
Soon-Shiong mentioned that he occasionally suggests news stories but does not block stories to protect individuals he knows. He emphasized the importance of reporting truthfully, even if it involves conflicts of interest or negative actions by public figures.
The struggle for the future of local news is ongoing, with Soon-Shiong and others grappling with how to approach opinion journalism in a changing media landscape. Other media owners, like Jeff Bezos, have faced similar challenges in balancing opinions and maintaining trust with readers. Trust in national news sources has declined over the past eight years, with only 68% of Americans trusting them now, down from 76% previously. Among Republicans, trust dropped from 70% to 40%, while around 80% of Democrats still trust national news sources.
Increasing ideological diversity in opinion pages may not be enough to attract readers or generate revenue in the challenging digital news industry. Traditional newspapers are struggling, with reduced staffing and declining revenues. Even successful papers like The New York Times are experimenting with new revenue streams, such as games and consumer recommendations.
The owner of the Los Angeles Times, Soon-Shiong, is trying to attract more readers by offering a wider range of viewpoints. He plans to generate additional revenue through events and creating more content with L.A. Times Studios. However, experts believe that changing the ideological leaning of editorials and columns may not be enough to save newspapers.
Soon-Shiong’s plan to introduce a “bias meter” to indicate the ideological bent of the paper’s content has faced criticism. Some experts question the reliability of machine-driven analysis, while readers and commentators like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar have expressed concerns about the impact of this tool on journalism and democracy.
Despite the challenges facing the news industry, Soon-Shiong believes that offering a variety of opinions is crucial for The Times’ survival. He hopes that the “bias meter” will demonstrate the paper’s commitment to being a trustworthy and unbiased news source. Seniority is seen as a recognition of the value that comes with experience, strong community connections, and time. The management and workers at The Times have been in disagreement over whether employees should return to the office or continue working from home, which most staff have been doing since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020. While many workplaces have started returning to the office at least part-time, The Times has mandated that journalists come into the office two days a week now that the health crisis is over. The union argues that this change in working conditions must be negotiated.
The owner believes that a collaborative work environment is important for fostering teamwork, camaraderie, and productivity. However, many employees feel they are more productive working from home, saving time and money on commuting. Despite this, they have not received a cost-of-living increase for over three years.
During a tour of the El Segundo headquarters, the owner was disappointed to find the newsroom almost empty. He emphasized the need for mutual investment and expressed his disappointment at the lack of presence in the building. The owner questioned the entitlement of employees who only come into the office on Thursdays, suggesting that funding should only be provided for those days.
The guild responded by stating that they are not opposed to more regular office attendance, but they want to negotiate the terms. They expressed frustration at the lack of progress in bargaining and the negative statements about the newsroom. The owner clarified that his remarks were not meant to be a blanket judgment on the quality of the newsroom but rather an effort to establish a trustworthy and balanced news source.
He emphasized the importance of public support for journalism in maintaining a free and independent press, which he believes is essential for a healthy democracy. Without a strong press, he believes that holding the powerful accountable and making informed decisions would be compromised.
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