Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, owner of the Los Angeles Times, isn’t one to shy away from ambitious moves. His latest is building a revamped editorial board aimed at fostering ideological diversity in one of America’s most storied newspapers. Among his recruits: CNN commentator Scott Jennings, a stalwart conservative voice, who announced his acceptance of the role earlier this week.
“It’s true—I’ve accepted Dr. Soon-Shiong’s invitation to join the editorial board of the Los Angeles Times,” Jennings wrote on X. “I’ve written columns for the paper over the last few years and was honored to do so under such a storied and important masthead. I love newspapers and believe in strong journalism and strong opinion pages that represent a wide array of views.”
“I plan to represent those Americans who believe they are often ignored or even ridiculed in legacy media and applaud Dr. Soon-Shiong’s move to bring balance to the editorial board.” He assured followers that his other professional obligations, including his work with CNN, would remain unaffected.
It’s true – I’ve accepted @DrPatSoonShiong invitation to join the editorial board of the @latimes. I’ve written columns for the paper over the last few years and was honored to do so under such a storied and important masthead. I love newspapers and believe in strong journalism… https://t.co/GrMa44T6en
— Scott Jennings (@ScottJenningsKY) November 29, 2024
Jennings, a familiar face on CNN and a respected columnist, has been a strong advocate for ensuring conservative viewpoints are given a fair hearing in media spaces often seen as liberal-leaning. His inclusion on the editorial board aligns with Soon-Shiong’s vision of creating a platform that reflects a broader spectrum of American views.
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Jennings’ appointment has drawn attention both for its potential to reshape the paper’s editorial direction and for the questions it raises about whether legacy media can genuinely embrace balance. Soon-Shiong highlighted the significance of the addition in a tweet: “Way to go Scott and thanks for accepting. Stay tuned we are making this happen.”
That’s why I want Scott on our new editorial board!!! Growing the board with experts who have thoughtful balanced views and new candidates are accepting the challenge to join us! Way to go Scott and thanks for accepting @latimes @ScottJenningsKY Stay tuned we are making this…
— Dr. Pat Soon-Shiong (@DrPatSoonShiong) November 26, 2024
The Los Angeles Times’ decision to bring Jennings aboard marks an effort to address long-standing critiques about bias in media.
Soon-Shiong, the billionaire biotech investor, acquired the Times in June 2018. Under his ownership, the newspaper has experienced notable editorial shifts, particularly concerning political endorsements and the inclusion of diverse viewpoints.
Staying strong and resolute to transform the paper and drive a rebirth @LATimes. @Foxnews we laid out the path for the LA Times to report just the facts when we publish “news”. These facts should be labeled as “News”. It is our obligation to ensure that our readers can tell what…
— Dr. Pat Soon-Shiong (@DrPatSoonShiong) November 15, 2024
The hiring of Jennings comes after the newspaper opted not to endorse a candidate in the 2024 presidential election, a decision that sparked frustration among liberals. Following this, Soon-Shiong announced plans to restructure the editorial board to better represent a spectrum of political perspectives, including conservative voices.
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