LA Times to create new editorial board after Trump win

Publisher and owner of the LA Times Patrick Soon-Shiong has announced that in light of Donald Trump's decisive electoral win, the entire Editorial Board of the news outlet will be revamped. Soon-Shiong had also quashed the publication's endorsement of Kamala Harris for president. The current Board was displeased with the plan.

"The newsroom is pissed," a source told The Wrap. 

"The American people have spoken and @latimes will take the lead to provide factual and balanced coverage as the country heals its division," Soon-Shiong said.

"Proud that we posted this letter from one of our readers on X," Soon-Shiong said. "When the President has won the vote of the majority of Americans then ALL voices must be heard. Opinions are just that. I will work towards making our paper and media fair and balanced so that all voices are heard and we can respectfully exchange every American’s view ..from left to right to the center. Coming soon. A new Editorial Board. Trust in media is critical for a strong democracy."

The article the reader was responding to was one of many run by the paper slamming the results of the presidential election. It was called "There’s no mystery. White women handed Trump the election." The column by LZ Granderson read: "The majority of white women in this country want a male president — preferably white. That’s not me talking; that’s nearly a century of voting data speaking." Granderson goes on to explain that Kamala lost because Americans are racist and sexist.

The Letter to the Editor shared by Soon-Shiong took issue with Granderson. The writer said: "One, I object to being defined by skin color. No one should be so defined. Until we learn to move beyond such divisive markers, we will continually be at odds over differences that amount to fictions. Two, exit polls clearly show that it was men of all stripes, if we must employ distinctions, who again handed Trump the White House."

The LA Times Guild, which had balked at Soon-Shiong's refusal to allow a pro-Kamala endorsement, previously said that they were "deeply concerned about The Times' owner's decision to block a planned endorsement, and his statement that unfairly shifts blame onto editorial board members."

One editorial board member, Mariel Garza, resigned when Soon-Shiong pulled the plug on the endorsement. Soon-Shiong told the board they could cover the policy positions of both candidates, or stay silent, but could not run a straight-up endorsement. The board chose to stay silent and he said he respected their decision.

"I am resigning because I want to make it clear that I am not okay with us being silent," Garza told the Columbia Journalism Review, "In dangerous times, honest people need to stand up. This is how I'm standing up."