The mainstream media never saw it coming. For months, liberal news outlets ran headline after headline telling Americans Trump didn’t stand a chance. They rolled out endless polls, op-eds, and think pieces warning us of Trump’s so-called “demise.”
The message was clear: the media wanted the country to think Trump was yesterday’s news. But then, Election Day arrived, and America’s “silent majority” roared back. Trump didn’t just win; he took a landslide victory. And as the dust settles, it’s clear that while newspapers might have been loudly against him, the American people were not.
So, what does that say about today’s newspapers? With Trump winning big, it’s a wake-up call to the biased mainstream media. Their predictions were wrong, their analysis missed the mark, and their readers caught on. Media outlets that presented a one-sided view and dismissed Trump supporters as a fringe group have to face the music.
A new Los Angeles Times editorial board representing “all voices” will be coming soon, according to a post from the paper’s owner.
On Sunday, Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong wrote about the importance of sharing different opinions to promote “trust in media” in the wake of President-elect Donald Trump’s resounding victory. [Source: Fox News]
Even some of the most liberal media giants are starting to realize they need to change. Enter the Los Angeles Times. Following Trump’s win, the L.A. Times’s owner, Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, posted a surprising message on social media.
In the wake of Trump’s landslide, he’s promising a new direction for the paper. The editorial board, he said, will start representing “all voices” to restore public trust. It’s almost shocking to hear that from a major left-leaning paper, but there it is. “Trust in media is critical for a strong democracy,” Soon-Shiong wrote. To prove it, he’s promising an editorial overhaul to allow fair and balanced coverage.
This move came after a wave of criticism over the paper’s refusal to endorse Kamala Harris. For the first time since 2008, the L.A. Times sat out the presidential endorsement game. That choice led to a few high-profile resignations within the editorial board, with some members saying they felt “silenced.”
But Soon-Shiong made his intentions clear: He wanted the board to draft a balanced analysis of both candidates, showing Americans the pros and cons on both sides. When the board refused, he let the non-endorsement stand. A media mogul standing up for balanced journalism? We’ll take it.
Molly Line from Fox News broke down the shift in tone on a recent episode of “MediaBuzz.” The Washington Post and L.A. Times, both vocal critics of Trump, are finally feeling the pressure to change. Soon-Shiong even posted a message about making the L.A. Times fairer to cover “ALL voices.”
He retweeted a post-election clip from CNN’s Scott Jennings, who openly acknowledged Trump’s sweeping win. Jennings said, “Trump has a mandate.” And for the L.A. Times, that mandate looks a lot like changing their tune.
Soon-Shiong also hinted at a new editorial board that will provide a platform for differing perspectives. He went so far as to repost letters from readers, some praising the decision not to endorse Kamala Harris, others critical of it. He wants to represent a spectrum of opinions, not just the liberal echo chamber.
Not everyone is on board with this change, though. The decision not to endorse Harris triggered an internal uproar. Editorial board members Mariel Garza, Robert Greene, and Karin Klein resigned in protest. Garza, for instance, said she felt she was “standing up” by walking away.
Meanwhile, the L.A. Times Guild slammed Soon-Shiong’s decision, accusing him of silencing the board. They issued a statement saying, “We are deeply concerned about our owner’s decision to block a planned endorsement.” In other words, they’re not thrilled about giving Trump a fair shake.
Despite this backlash, Soon-Shiong’s move sends a strong message. If the L.A. Times can adapt, other media might have to follow. Liberal papers might have ignored Trump’s America in the past, but ignoring half the country is no longer an option.
Author: Bo Dogan
