Los Angeles Times fires its editorial board after internal disagreements over planned election endorsement for Kamala Harris

US-based media organisation the Los Angeles Times, led by Patrick Soon-Shiong, has fired its entire editorial board and announced plans to replace them with a new team.

The move follows internal tensions that erupted after the newspaper chose not to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris for the U.S. presidential election, a decision that reportedly prompted a controversy within the newsroom.

Soon-Shiong, who has owned the paper since 2018, defended the restructuring as part of his vision to create a newspaper that is "fair and balanced," aiming to represent a broad spectrum of political viewpoints.


"The paper will work to ensure that it fairly represents all political views, from left to right to center, and that every voice is heard," Soon-Shiong said of the overhaul.


The controversy began when the LA Times editorial board, which has traditionally played a crucial role in shaping public opinion through its endorsements, made the decision not to back any candidate in the 2024 race, particularly Kamala Harris.

This decision was not well received by all board members, and some resigned in protest over the rejection of their prepared endorsement.

The Los Angeles Times Media Guild, which represents many of the paper's staff, sharply criticised Soon-Shiong for his role in the situation.

The Guild accused Soon-Shiong of "blaming" the editorial board for the lack of an endorsement when it was him who ultimately rejected the board's prepared statement.

"As a result of this decision and the subsequent firing of the editorial board, tensions within the newsroom have reached a boiling point," one source familiar with the situation said. "There is a sense of pervasive despair, and morale is at an all-time low."

In addition to the reshuffling of the editorial board, the new team includes fewer members from the LA Times Media Guild, which has further fuelled discontent among the paper's staff.

The atmosphere at the Times has become increasingly charged as employees grapple with the fallout from the decision and the broader changes taking place.

This move is the latest in a series of controversies surrounding the LA Times under Soon-Shiong's ownership. Critics have raised concerns over the direction of the paper, particularly regarding its editorial independence and the influence of ownership on its editorial stance.

Amidst the criticism, Soon-Shiong claimed that he is committed to creating a more balanced and diverse editorial voice, with the hope of better reflecting the political landscape of the United States.

He said that the new editorial board will work to offer perspectives across the political spectrum, aiming to foster a broader conversation within the paper’s pages.

(With inputs from ToI)