Mariel Garza's position as editorials editor at the Los Angeles Times came to an unexpected end amid controversy over presidential endorsements.
According to Newsweek, Garza resigned from her position after the newspaper's owner blocked the editorial board's intended endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris for the 2024 presidential race.
Patrick Soon-Shiong, who acquired the newspaper in 2018, defended his stance by emphasizing the need for non-partisan analysis rather than an outright endorsement.
The situation has created tension between the newspaper's leadership and its editorial staff, highlighting the delicate balance between ownership prerogatives and editorial freedom.
Soon-Shiong's directive called for a side-by-side comparison of policies between Harris and former President Donald Trump rather than an endorsement. His approach aimed to provide readers with objective analysis so they could make their own informed decisions about the candidates.
The newspaper had previously supported Harris in her campaigns for U.S. Senate and state attorney general positions. This historical context makes the current decision to withhold a presidential endorsement particularly noteworthy.
Garza had prepared an outline supporting Harris before the decision to remain neutral was imposed. The blocked endorsement represents a significant departure from the paper's traditional approach to political coverage.
The L.A. Times Guild Unit Council & Bargaining Committee expressed strong opposition to Soon-Shiong's decision.
They particularly questioned his subsequent attribution of blame to Editorial Board members for the non-endorsement stance.
In response to the controversy, Garza shared her perspective with the Columbia Journalism Review. Here is her statement:
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.
The situation has drawn attention from various political quarters, including the Trump campaign, which noted the significance of California's largest newspaper declining to endorse the Democratic ticket.
This resignation follows other recent changes at the newspaper, including the departure of former executive editor Kevin Merida approximately ten months ago. The paper has been facing challenges related to digital subscription goals and financial pressures.
Soon-Shiong took to social media platform X to explain his position, stating that the editorial board was asked to evaluate candidates' policies objectively. The board's ultimate decision to remain silent was accepted by the owner, though questions about editorial independence persist.
