LA Times Faces Staff Resignations Over AI-Powered 'Bias Meter' Plan

Los Angeles Times owner Patrick Soon-Shiong plans to launch an AI-powered “bias meter” in January 2024 to help readers identify perceived biases in news articles and present multiple viewpoints. Soon-Shiong revealed the initiative on Scott Jennings' Flyover Country podcast, claiming it will use augmented intelligence technology he originally developed for healthcare. The tool is intended to combat confirmation bias and provide "both sides" of a story at the push of a button.

However, this move has ignited controversy within the newsroom. The Los Angeles Times Guild, representing staffers, criticized Soon-Shiong for implying that journalists are biased without providing evidence. “Our members abide by strict ethics guidelines,” the Guild stated, reaffirming their commitment to fairness and precision in reporting.

Resignations Follow Editorial Changes

The proposed bias meter is one of several contentious actions by Soon-Shiong, including restructuring the editorial board to include more conservative and centrist voices. These moves have led to high-profile resignations, including senior legal affairs columnist Harry Litman and assistant editorial page editor Kerry Cavanaugh.

Litman accused Soon-Shiong of making the Times more sympathetic to Donald Trump, citing a blocked endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris as part of a broader shift in editorial direction. In his resignation letter, Litman described the changes as “dangerous” and an insult to the paper's readership. Litman expressed frustration with what he described as editorial decisions compromising the paper's independence and critical democratic role.

Cavanaugh’s resignation adds to mounting tensions following Soon-Shiong’s decision to review opinion headlines before publication and veto a “pre-packaged” presidential endorsement during the 2024 election cycle. This decision reportedly led to staff protests, subscription cancellations, and a diminished editorial board—now down to three members.

Aiming for Political Balance

Soon-Shiong defended his changes, arguing for greater balance in the opinion section. “Our current board of opinion writers veered very left, which is fine, but I think in order to have balance, you also need to have somebody who would trend right, and more importantly, somebody that would trend in the middle,” he told CNN. He criticized the endorsement process, stating he was "outraged" by the lack of consultation with candidates before drafting endorsements.

Soon-Shiong emphasized the importance of transparency in journalism, stating, “Everybody has a right to an opinion, that’s fair,” while highlighting the need for greater balance in the paper’s opinion content. He added that it is crucial to “actually create some level of balance when it comes to opinion and columnist, and then we need to actually let the reader know this is opinion.”

While critics argue these moves risk alienating loyal readers and diminishing editorial independence, supporters might see them as a step toward fostering more inclusive and diverse journalism.

What This Means

Soon-Shiong’s actions underscore a growing tension between newsroom integrity and ownership directives in U.S. media. While his focus on addressing bias and diversifying viewpoints may appeal to some, critics see these changes as undermining journalistic independence and pandering to political forces.

The AI bias meter introduces additional challenges, including the potential for oversimplifying complex reporting and alienating loyal readers. Moving forward, the success of these changes will likely hinge on how they balance transparency with editorial freedom—a delicate equilibrium in today’s polarized media landscape.

Editor’s Note: This article was created by Alicia Shapiro, CMO of AiNews.com, with writing, image, and idea-generation support from ChatGPT, an AI assistant. However, the final perspective and editorial choices are solely Alicia Shapiro’s. Special thanks to ChatGPT for assistance with research and editorial support in crafting this article.