The Conflict Between Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong and The Los Angeles Times
In 2018, Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, the billionaire owner of The Los Angeles Times, hired Kevin Merida as the newspaper’s top editor, praising him for his dedication to maintaining high standards and journalistic integrity. However, tensions arose between the two men when Dr. Soon-Shiong attempted to dissuade Mr. Merida from pursuing a story about a wealthy California doctor and his dog. The doctor was reportedly an acquaintance of Dr. Soon-Shiong’s.
This incident occurred during a challenging period for The Los Angeles Times, as the publication struggled to recover from years of losses in a challenging newspaper market. Mr. Merida ultimately resigned, and the company subsequently laid off approximately 20% of its newsroom staff.
While it’s not uncommon for publication owners to be consulted on sensitive reporting, the situation drew attention due to Dr. Soon-Shiong’s alleged attempt to prevent the story from being pursued before it was even published, without posing a risk to government secrets or human lives.
Both Dr. Soon-Shiong and The Los Angeles Times have offered conflicting perspectives on the situation. Dr. Soon-Shiong disputed the characterization of his actions and emphasized the importance of “truthful, factual reporting” on the story. In contrast, Mr. Merida cited personal career considerations as a factor in his decision to step down as editor.
The conflict stemmed from a business reporter’s work on Dr. Gary Michelson, a California surgeon involved in lawsuits related to an incident where his dog allegedly bit a woman in a Los Angeles park. The reporters working on the story faced pressure from Dr. Soon-Shiong, who expressed his displeasure over the unpublished article. The situation ultimately led to Mr. Bercovici, the business editor, being laid off.
The Los Angeles Times observed that Dr. Soon-Shiong had urged the editors to ensure a thorough investigation was conducted before any potentially sensitive content was published, although some individuals have raised concerns regarding the owner’s influence on journalistic decision-making.
It should be noted that The Los Angeles Times has not published any articles about Dr. Michelson in the wake of this controversy. Despite the turmoil within the organization, the reporter in charge of the story continued to cover it, indicating ongoing efforts to maintain professional integrity amid internal challenges.
This incident sheds light on the complexities of journalistic integrity and editorial independence within media organizations, especially when faced with pressures or conflicts of interest from ownership. As The Los Angeles Times navigates this situation, it remains imperative to prioritize ethical reporting and transparent communication with readers.