In a stunning move, the editorial editor of the Los Angeles Times has resigned after the newspaper’s owner blocked an endorsement of Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris for president, as reported by a journalism trade publication on Wednesday.
Mariel Garza, who had served in the editorial role, told the Columbia Journalism Review that she resigned because the paper’s silence in such “dangerous times” was unacceptable. “I am resigning because I want to make it clear that I am not OK with us being silent,” Garza stated. “In dangerous times, honest people need to stand up. This is how I’m standing up.”
Owner Defends Neutral Stance
Patrick Soon-Shiong, the billionaire owner of the LA Times, addressed the controversy in a post on social media platform X, though he did not directly mention Garza’s resignation. He explained that the editorial board was tasked with doing a factual analysis of both Harris and her Republican rival, former President Donald Trump, focusing on their policies during their time in office and their plans for the future.
The board, he said, was asked to present this information in a non-partisan way so readers could make their own decisions. “In this way, 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 wrote.
He went on to state that the board “chose to remain silent, and I accepted their decision.”
Editorial Board’s Frustration
Garza revealed that the editorial board had been planning to endorse Harris, and she had even drafted the outline for the editorial. However, the owner’s intervention prevented them from moving forward with the endorsement.
In response, the LA Times Guild Unit Council & Bargaining Committee voiced its concern over the decision, saying they were troubled by the owner’s interference. “We are even more concerned that he is now unfairly assigning blame to Editorial Board members for his decision not to endorse,” the guild stated, adding that they are still pressing newsroom management for answers.
Trump Campaign Weighs In
The Trump campaign wasted no time in seizing upon Garza’s resignation, pointing out that the state’s largest newspaper had refrained from endorsing the Democratic ticket, despite previously backing Harris in her races for U.S. Senate and California attorney general.
Garza’s resignation comes just months after former LA Times Executive Editor Kevin Merida stepped down in what was described as a “mutually agreed” departure. The paper has been grappling with financial struggles, particularly in achieving its digital subscriber goals, raising concerns about its future sustainability.
