LOS ANGELES — The editorials editor at the Los Angeles Times has stepped down following the newspaper owner’s refusal to support the editorial board’s intention to endorse Kamala Harris, the Democratic Vice President, in her presidential campaign, as reported by a journalism trade publication on Wednesday.
Mariel Garza shared with the Columbia Journalism Review that her resignation was driven by the paper’s choice to remain neutral during what she considers a critical juncture in the nation’s political climate. Garza emphasized her belief in the importance of taking a stand during “dangerous times.” She stated, “I am resigning because I want to make it clear that I am not OK with us being silent. In dangerous times, honest people need to stand up. This is how I’m standing up.”
In a statement posted on X, the social media platform, owner Patrick Soon-Shiong addressed the situation without directly referencing Garza’s resignation. He indicated that the editorial board had been instructed to conduct a factual comparison of the policies advocated by Harris and former President Donald Trump throughout their respective terms. Additionally, he noted that the board was expected to report on the candidates’ current policy positions and their projected implications for the nation’s future.
This approach, according to Soon-Shiong, was intended to furnish readers with objective information, enabling them to make an informed choice in the upcoming election. Since acquiring the publication in 2018, Soon-Shiong reflected on the board’s decision to not endorse either candidate, saying he had accepted their choice to remain silent on the matter.
Garza also revealed that the editorial board’s initial plan was to back Harris, and she had prepared a framework for the expected editorial endorsement. A spokesperson for the LA Times did not immediately reply to a request for comments regarding this resignation.
Trump’s campaign quickly capitalized on Garza’s exit, highlighting that the largest newspaper in California opted not to endorse the Democratic ticket after previously supporting Harris in her campaigns for U.S. Senate and as California’s attorney general.
This development comes roughly ten months after Kevin Merida, the former Executive Editor, parted ways with the organization in what was described as a mutually agreed-upon decision. At that time, the Los Angeles Times acknowledged its struggles to meet its digital subscriber targets and indicated the need for increased revenue to support both its newsroom and digital initiatives.
