Conservative commentator Scott Jennings is the newest member of the The Los Angeles Times editorial board.
“It’s true – I’ve accepted @DrPatSoonShiong invitation to join the editorial board of the @latimes,” Jennings announced in a post on the social platform X on Friday.
“I plan to represent those Americans who believe they are often ignored or even ridiculed in legacy media and applaud Dr. Soon-Shiong’s move to bring balance to the editorial board,” he added in the post, saying that his other obligations won’t be affected by the new role.
Jennings’s announcement comes as Los Angeles Times owner Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong said he was looking to balance opinion pieces in the publication through new recruits, like popular conservative voices. This followed the publication’s controversial decision not to endorse a candidate in this year’s presidential election.
Soon-Shiong had suggested that having someone like Scott Jennings on the board would be beneficial.
“I think it’s important for us to differentiate the editorial board is responsible for these opinions on these voices. So, right now, we don’t have an editorial board if we are truly honest about ourselves that are balanced. And so, I’ve gotten beaten up about fair and balance,” Soon-Shion said in October.
“So, I’m looking for people like Scott Jennings,” Soon-Shiong added.
Jennings called Soon-Shiong’s desire to balance opinion pieces “ground-breaking.”
“I approach my commentary jobs by starting with the truth and then providing my honest opinion based on my conservative values and experience. I think Dr Soon-Shiong is doing something important and groundbreaking and am honored he asked me to play a role in that,” Jennings wrote on the post.
