LA Times Editor Resigns Over Endorsement Controversy

The resignation of Mariel Garza, editorials editor at The Los Angeles Times, has drawn significant attention following her public protest against the newspaper’s decision not to endorse a candidate in the 2024 presidential election. Garza’s resignation highlights tensions between the editorial board and the newspaper’s billionaire owner, Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, who blocked the board’s attempt to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris. The LA Times, which has traditionally endorsed Democratic candidates, now finds itself at the center of a media controversy.

Garza’s Stand for Transparency

Garza's decision to resign stems from what she perceives as a stifling of the editorial board's voice in a critical election cycle. In an interview with Columbia Journalism Review, Garza explained, “In dangerous times, honest people need to stand up. This is how I’m standing up.” She emphasized that her resignation was a direct response to the silence enforced by Dr. Soon-Shiong, who instructed the editorial board not to make any endorsement. Garza had initially believed the board's endorsement would not dramatically alter the outcome, as The LA Times has a largely liberal readership.

However, the absence of an endorsement, particularly in a race as contentious as 2024, struck her as both hypocritical and damaging to the newspaper's credibility. “It makes us look craven and hypocritical, maybe even a bit sexist and racist,” Garza stated, pointing to The LA Times’ history of opposition to Donald Trump’s presidency and the decision to refrain from backing Harris, whom the paper endorsed during her Senate race.

Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong’s Defense

In a rare public defense, Dr. Soon-Shiong pushed back against Garza’s claims. He explained that the editorial board had been instructed to draft a factual analysis of both candidates, highlighting their positive and negative policies. According to Soon-Shiong, this approach would allow readers to make their own informed decisions without the influence of an official endorsement. “With this clear and non-partisan information side-by-side, our readers could decide who would be worthy of being President for the next four years,” Soon-Shiong said in a social media post.

However, Garza responded by asserting that Soon-Shiong’s directive did not constitute an endorsement. She noted that his expectations for neutrality seemed more like a compromise to avoid taking a firm stance in the race.

LA Times Editorial Board in Turmoil

The fallout from Soon-Shiong’s decision has raised questions about editorial independence at The LA Times. The editorial board has consistently supported Democratic candidates since endorsing Barack Obama in 2008, making this year’s omission particularly notable. The decision to withhold endorsement, despite the board’s intent to support Harris, was seen by some as a troubling sign of the owner’s interference in editorial matters.

The LA Times Guild, representing the newspaper’s unionized staff, voiced their concern, saying they were “deeply troubled” by Soon-Shiong’s decision. They also criticized the owner for placing undue blame on the editorial board for its silence, further inflaming tensions within the newspaper’s leadership.

A History of Endorsement Controversy

Soon-Shiong's decision to block the Harris endorsement isn't the first time he has overruled the editorial board. In 2020, the LA Times board had planned to endorse Elizabeth Warren in the Democratic primary. Soon-Shiong intervened and prevented any endorsement in the primary race, though the newspaper ultimately endorsed Joe Biden in the general election.

This pattern of interference has led to growing concerns about the influence of ownership on the editorial process. The LA Times’s decision to withhold an endorsement in this election mirrors a historical precedent—between the mid-1970s and 2008, the paper abstained from endorsing presidential candidates after internal dissent over its 1972 endorsement of Richard Nixon.

What’s Next for the LA Times

The resignation of Garza and the public dispute between her and Soon-Shiong casts a long shadow over the LA Times as it faces the most pivotal election in recent memory. Readers are left questioning the newspaper's commitment to transparency and journalistic independence.

This incident highlights broader issues surrounding media ownership and editorial integrity. As Garza stated in her resignation letter, “In these dangerous times, staying silent isn’t just indifference, it is complicity.” Whether the LA Times can navigate this controversy while maintaining the trust of its readership remains to be seen.

Do you agree with Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong’s veto of the LA Times editorial’s endorsement for President? Or, are you siding with the LA Times editorial board? Share your opinion on this matter.

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