LA Times Owner’s Non-Endorsement in 2024 Presidential Race Sparks Controversy
Decision
A decision by the owner of the Los Angeles Times not to endorse in the 2024 presidential race, after the paper’s editorial board proposed backing Kamala Harris, has created a tempest, prompting three members of the board to resign and provoking thousands of readers to cancel their subscriptions.
Owner’s Reasoning
Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, the owner of the Los Angeles Times, said that his decision not to offer readers a recommendation would be less divisive in a tumultuous election year.
"The process was simple: how do we actually best inform our readers? And there could be nobody better than us who try to sift the facts from fiction while leaving it to readers to make their own final decision," he said in an interview with The Times.
Disagreement among Editorial Board Members
Members of the editorial board disagreed with the non-endorsement, with Editorials Editor Mariel Garza resigning on Wednesday and Editorial Board members Robert Greene and Karin Klein tendering their resignations the following day.
"How could we spend eight years railing against Trump’s leadership and then fail to endorse the decent Democrat challenger, who we previously endorsed for the U.S. Senate?" Garza wrote in her letter of resignation to Times Executive Editor Terry Tang.
Alternative Proposal
Soon-Shiong proposed an alternative, asking the editorial board to draft a factual analysis of all the positive and negative policies by each candidate during their tenures at the White House, and how these policies affected the nation. He believed this would allow readers to make an informed decision.
Controversy and Reactions
The decision has sparked controversy, with many readers and former employees expressing their disappointment and frustration. Over 2,000 customers have already canceled their subscriptions, and some have written scathing messages on social media.
Long History of Endorsements
The Los Angeles Times has a long history of endorsing presidential candidates, with 2020 being the first election they did not endorse a candidate. Meanwhile, other newspapers such as The New York Times and The Washington Post have also endorsed candidates, with some facing backlash from readers.
Conclusion
The controversy surrounding the Los Angeles Times’ non-endorsement highlights the complex and often divisive nature of the presidential election. As millions of Americans prepare to head to the polls, it is clear that the decision to endorse or not is a highly contested and emotional topic.
FAQs
Q: Why did the editorials board members resign?
A: Three members of the editorial board, including Editorials Editor Mariel Garza, resigned in disagreement with the non-endorsement decision.
Q: What is the reason for the non-endorsement?
A: Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, the owner of the Los Angeles Times, believes that a non-endorsement would be less divisive in a tumultuous election year.
Q: What was the alternative proposal from the editorial board?
A: The proposal was to draft a factual analysis of all the positive and negative policies by each candidate and how these policies affected the nation.
Q: What was the reaction from readers?
A: Many readers were disappointed and frustrated with the decision, with over 2,000 subscribers canceling their subscriptions.
