Patrick Soon-Shiong, the billionaire owner of the Los Angeles Times, has reportedly instructed the newspaper’s editorial board to “take a break from writing about” President-elect Donald Trump, according to workers within the paper.
The move has sparked controversy among staff members, who claim Soon-Shiong’s interference in editorial decisions is becoming more noticeable and intrusive than ever before.
Soon-Shiong, who purchased the LA Times in 2018, has faced growing criticism for his involvement in editorial matters.
Last week, it was revealed that he had blocked an editorial that criticized the Senate’s approach to confirming Trump’s cabinet picks, a decision that some have described as a step too far in controlling the editorial content of the paper.
The editorial, which argued that the Senate should uphold its traditional confirmation process rather than allow Trump to make recess appointments, was reportedly rejected by Soon-Shiong.
His hands-on approach to editorial control has extended beyond this single editorial, with reports indicating that he now requires the editorial board to send him drafts of every piece along with the name of the writer before publication.
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This new policy is said to apply specifically to Trump-related content, making it harder for the editorial board to publish pieces critical of the president-elect unless they are paired with opposing views.
Staff members have expressed concerns that this restriction has effectively led to the delay or cancellation of multiple editorials.
Soon-Shiong’s increased involvement in the newspaper’s editorial decisions also includes efforts to create a “bias meter” for every article published by the LA Times, a move that has left some questioning the paper’s editorial independence.
The changes have already led to significant departures, including that of senior legal columnist Harry Litman, who resigned in protest, accusing the owner of pandering to Trump in a “shameful capitulation.”
An LA Times spokesperson responded to the controversy by stating that management is reviewing the concerns raised by the editorial staff.