L.A. Times Executive Editor Kevin Merida to step down

Los Angeles Times Executive Editor Kevin Merida announced Tuesday that he was stepping down 2½ years after joining The Times as its newsroom leader with a mission to strengthen the organization during a period of turbulence in the news industry. “I made the decision, in consultation with Patrick, after considerable soul-searching about my career at this stage and how I can best be of value to the profession I love.” Soon-Shiong said that he and Merida had “mutually agreed that his role as executive editor of the L.A. Times will conclude this week.” Merida’s contract was due to expire at the end of May. “It’s a family obligation of immigrants coming to this country, and being blessed by the democracy of America.” Tensions between Soon-Shiong and Merida had developed in recent months, including over the paper’s financial underperformance, its failure to meet subscriber growth targets and the amount of time and investment needed to complete a turnaround without continued cash infusions from the Soon-Shiong family, according to several knowledgeable people who were not authorized to speak publicly. This year will bring other major moves, including additional cost pressures and a shift of the printing operations to a plant owned by rival Southern California News Group in Riverside County rather than using The Times’ longtime facilities on Olympic Boulevard in downtown L.A. “I am proud of what we accomplished together during my tenure here, and grateful to Patrick and the Soon-Shiong family for the opportunity to help transform The Times into a modern, innovative news media company for a new generation of consumers,” Merida wrote. “I still believe in The Times and its potential.” Merida said leading The Times’ newsroom was “one of the signature experiences” of his career.