LOS ANGELES (AP) — The executive editor of the Los Angeles Times announced Tuesday that he is stepping down after a 2 1/2-year tenure at the newspaper that spanned the coronavirus pandemic and three Pulitzer Prizes, as well as a period of layoffs and contentious contract negotiations with the newsroom’s union. He and Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, the paper’s owner, “mutually agreed” on the departure, according to statements released Tuesday. “Today, with a heavy heart, I announce that I am leaving The Times,” Merida wrote to the staff. Merida’s departure comes after a rocky year and a devastating round of layoffs last summer that eliminated 13% of newsroom positions. On the business side, the Los Angeles Times Studios — once seen by Merida as a key area of growth — was significantly scaled back.

Source: Los Angeles Times January 09, 2024 19:42 UTC