Political Gumbo: Standing in Solidarity with My Brothers At the Times

Friday is typically a day off, but I had to get out the crayons when I heard this news.

On Friday for the first time in more than 100 years, reporters at the LA Times walked off the job.

As of now, it’s supposed to be just one day.

Reporters there are standing up against more layoffs.

According to reports, the cuts could be as deep as 20% or the equivalent of at least 100 journalists.

Earlier this month, top editor Kevin Merida resigned over billionaire owner Patrick Soon-Shiong’s alleged editorial interference regarding the paper’s coverage of the Israel-Hammas conflict.

The LA Times is the only other outlet I read daily, well I didn’t read it Friday in honor of the reporters. I also check out the Star-News a few times a week.

Yes newspapers compete for stories and ad dollars, but real journalists and newspaper people have a camaraderie. I don’t want to see anybody out of work.

And I get it, print is struggling. Hell I even left print for a digital product as some will point out.

I left because of editorial interference, and I left four years ago on Jan. 20 so happy anniversary to me, I may have to drop a cold one at Stoney Point tomorrow night if any of my people are up for it.

Back to the Times.

According to the newspaper, the company lost $30 million to $40 million last year.

DAMN.

Let me be straight, the reporters are not responsible for that kind of loss. Sounds to me like the layoffs need to start in management if things are that bad. Of course it never happens that way.

Unfortunately, the bulk of the layoffs will impact reporters, copy editors and page designers. Far too many newspapers have disappeared and too many reporters have been laid off. Some estimates say one third of the newspapers across the country will have closed by the end of this year.

Everytime we lose a newspaper, or one is turned into a glorified high school project by inept owners, we lose just a little more of our democracy because the community receives less information.

We need journalists that are interested in fairness, telling all sides of a story.

Sadly, some of those reporters doing just that are about to lose their jobs at the “paper of record.”

Don’t get me started on that.

So yes I stand with my brothers, I’m not reading the LA Times today. And honestly guys, I have not made my mind up about tomorrow.

Stand tall.