LA Times Journo Triggered, Rage Quits Over The Owner Wanting To Be ‘Fair And Balanced’ [WATCH]

Harry Litman, a former U.S. attorney and assistant U.S. attorney general, resigned abruptly from the Los Angeles Times following major changes announced by the paper’s owner, biotech billionaire Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong.

The reforms aim to reduce bias in the newsroom and editorial board, a move that has sparked controversy among left-leaning contributors.

Soon-Shiong, who acquired the Times in 2018, announced sweeping changes to address bias and improve objectivity in reporting.

Celebrate Trump’s Historic 2024 Victory with the Exclusive Trump 47th President Collection!

One of his proposals includes implementing an AI-powered “bias meter” to accompany news stories, allowing readers to assess the level of bias in the content.

“Somebody could understand as they read it that the source of the article has some level of bias,” Soon-Shiong explained during an appearance on CNN commentator Scott Jennings’ Flyover Country podcast.

“What we need to do is not have what we call confirmation bias. The reader can press a button and get both sides of that exact same story and then give comments.”

Soon-Shiong also criticized the media for failing to separate news from opinion, warning that this trend could lead to the downfall of what is considered mainstream media.

In addition to the bias meter, Soon-Shiong has brought in conservative voices to the Times editorial board, including CNN commentator Scott Jennings.

BREAKING: Los Angeles Times reportedly adding pro-Trump voice Scott Jennings to its editorial board. pic.twitter.com/T9X7HmEa7m

— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) November 29, 2024

The paper also generated backlash earlier this year for declining to endorse Kamala Harris’ presidential bid, further indicating its shift toward less partisan reporting.

Litman, a senior legal affairs columnist known for his left-leaning commentary, announced his resignation after Soon-Shiong outlined his reforms.

Litman criticized his former employer during an appearance on MSNBC, accusing Soon-Shiong of “capitulating” to President-elect Donald Trump and the “threats” he allegedly poses to democracy.

“I think they cowered and are worried about their personal holdings and just being threatened by Trump,” Litman said. “And that’s a really shameful capitulation, I think. So, I just felt I couldn’t be a part of it and had to resign.”

This guy quit the LA Times rather than work somewhere that had “fair and balanced” reporting about Trump. pic.twitter.com/okRrQcfkeA

— Libby Emmons (@libbyemmons) December 8, 2024

During his interview with MSNBC host Nicolle Wallace, Litman argued that media outlets play a critical role in countering Trump’s agenda and defending government institutions that have faced criticism from conservatives.

“Papers have such an important role to play now and in this country,” Litman stated. “Trump has captured the political arena, maybe the Supreme Court, and he’s going after now the FBI, potentially the military, and, really, they’re one of the few institutions to be able to stand up and push back.”

He continued, “It’s in their finest tradition, and Trump has made clear he’ll go after them. And that’s an, you know, absolute five-alarm fire.”

Litman, who served during the Clinton Administration, further explained his decision to leave the Times in a Substack article, describing the reforms as an attempt to appease Trump. “I don’t want to continue to work for a paper that is appeasing Trump and facilitating his assault on democratic rule for craven reasons,” Litman wrote.

The resignation underscores the challenges faced by media organizations attempting to address concerns over bias while maintaining credibility in an increasingly polarized political environment.

As the Los Angeles Times embarks on these reforms, the debate over objectivity in journalism remains a contentious issue.

The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of LifeZette. Contact us for guidelines on submitting your own commentary.