| Stand with Black journalists at the Los Angeles Times. Friend,
The pressure is working! In June, we joined Black journalists at the Los Angeles Times in calling for change.
This week, the publisher issued a promising public response.
But this fight is just beginning: Sign now to make sure the L.A. Times follows through and meets the demands of Black journalists.
In his response to the Black Caucus of the L.A. Times Guild, publisher Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong1 said that the organization will hire more Black and Latinx journalists, ensure pay equity, investigate the racialized use of terms like “looting,” improve coverage of underserved communities, meet with Black staffers and more.
This is progress — but we’re only cautiously optimistic. We know from a ton of experience that big media organizations often don’t keep their promises. And we believe that the L.A. Times should speed up its 36-month timeline for hiring more Black and Latinx journalists.
We’re pleased to see that, unlike the leaders of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette,2 Dr. Soon-Shiong recognizes the harms that his organization has perpetuated and is at least saying he’s ready to institute change. Our allies within the paper have indicated that this is great progress — but we must keep up the pressure.
We need your voice: Let’s show Dr. Soon-Shiong and his staff that the world is watching and the clock is ticking. Tell the Los Angeles Times to meet the demands of Black journalists now because justice delayed is justice denied.
Thanks for all that you do—
Tauhid, Collette and the rest of the Free Press team
freepress.net
P.S. For far too long media organizations like the Los Angeles Times have reinforced white supremacy and failed to meet the needs of Black communities and journalists calling for change. Urge the Los Angeles Times to meet the demands of Black journalists.
1. “Letter from Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong,” July 2, 2020 2. "Post-Gazette Executive Editor Pens Open Letter, Claims ‘A Great Deal Of Disinformation’ Over Black Journalists Allegedly Pulled From Covering Protests," June 10, 2020, KDKA-CBS Pittsburgh  |
