Los Angeles Times Owner Goes on Fox News to Outline New Approach: “We Need Views From Both Sides”

Los Angeles Times Owner Goes on Fox News to Outline New Approach: “We Need Views From Both Sides”

As a long-time reader and supporter of diverse perspectives, I find Patrick Soon-Shiong’s approach to revitalizing the Los Angeles Times both intriguing and commendable. Coming from a background in biotech entrepreneurship, it seems he is applying his innovative spirit to journalism, seeking to create a platform that truly reflects the multifaceted nature of our society.


On a recent appearance on Fox News, I, as a passionate advocate for diverse perspectives, shared my vision for my publication, the Los Angeles Times, to foster and represent a wider range of viewpoints – aiming to truly reflect “the views of all.

The owner and billionaire biotech entrepreneur expressed the view on Fox News @ Night that the Times, which he purchased in 2018, had not recently demarcated which stories were news and which were opinion. “We’ve conflated news and opinion,” Soon-Shiong said in the appearance. “So, the first thing I want to do is ensure that we explicit say ‘This is news.’ And if it’s news, it should just be the facts, period. And if it’s an opinion, that’s maybe an opinion of the news and that’s what I call now a ‘voice.’”

He added, “We want voices from all sides to be heard.”

In the discussion, senior journalist William La Jeunesse expressed his opinion that “the newspaper has shifted significantly towards the left over several years, and this isn’t just limited to the editorial section but extends to the news content as well.” When Fox News @ Night host Trace Gallagher inquired about how Soon-Shiong planned to regain the trust of conservative readers, Soon-Shiong responded that it was the newspaper’s duty to “defend democracy” and to reflect “the perspectives of all” California and national readers. “Since only one perspective would make it a mere echo chamber,” he explained, “it will be challenging and risky. I am ready to face criticism, as I already have been.

As a dedicated follower, I recently found myself tuning into Fox News @ Night, intrigued by Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong’s latest appearance. This move follows his tweet on November 10, where he announced the formation of a new editorial board. The announcement comes in the wake of an internal uproar over the paper’s last-minute decision to withhold a presidential endorsement during the 2024 election cycle.

If Dr. Soon-Shiong had chosen not to involve himself in presidential elections back in the early spring, that would have been reasonable, impartial, and valid, according to Klein. However, making this decision at the last minute, when candidates are already established, polls are close, and small factors can sway the election, Dr. Soon-Shiong’s apparent non-editorial stance effectively becomes an editorial – a silent one, a seemingly invisible one that unfairly suggests serious flaws in Harris comparable to those of Donald Trump.

In his Fox News interview, Soon-Shiong stated he seeks individuals similar to Scott Jennings, a CNN commentator providing a conservative viewpoint, to assemble the new editorial board. He clarified, “I aim for diversity in opinions. My intention isn’t to overhaul the entire editorial board for this perspective.

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2024-11-15 22:54