THE NEWSMEN
PAT R I C K S O O N - S H I O N G A N D K E V I N M E R I DA Owner • Executive Editor, L.A. Times
p h o t o g r ap h e d by A RT S T R E I B E R a t T H E L . A . T I M E S O F F I C E S
T H E L . A T I M E S , hobbled by staff cuts and a rapacious owner, was reeling
when Soon-Shiong and his wife, Michele Chan, bought the paper (along with the San Diego Tribune) in 2018 for $500 million. The South African–born pharmaceutical magnate hired Merida, a beloved Washington Post veteran, who was also in the running for the top job at that paper. It was reported last year that Soon-Shiong, deep in development of a COVID vaccine, was considering selling the Times, which he denied. In any event, the newsroom, under Merida’s guidance, has rallied with tough stories and renewed purpose. —M.W.
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