Conservative commentator Scott Jennings announced Friday he is joining the editorial board of the Los Angeles Times, whose owner said earlier this month he wants to make the left-leaning publication more balanced in its viewpoints.
Jennings, who frequently appears on CNN, said he accepted Patrick Soon-Shiong’s request to join the editorial board after the billionaire owner announced the hire Tuesday. Jennings has contributed columns to the Times since 2019 and has regularly appeared on CNN since 2017.
“I’ve written columns for the paper over the last few years and was honored to do so under such a storied and important masthead,” the political contributor wrote on X. “I love newspapers and believe in strong journalism and strong opinion pages that represent a wide array of views. 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,” he added.
During an appearance on Fox News after the presidential election, Soon-Shiong named Jennings as a model candidate for the newspaper’s revamped editorial board.
“I think it’s important for us to differentiate [that] the editorial board is responsible for these opinions on these voices,” Soon-Shiong told Fox News @ Night host Trace Gallagher. “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[sic]. So, I’m looking for people like Scott Jennings.”
The owner also revealed the Times will start distinguishing news stories from opinions — a common critique of mainstream media outlets.
“If it’s news, it should just be the facts, period,” Soon-Shiong explained. “And if it’s an opinion, that’s maybe an opinion of the news, and that’s what I call now a voice. And so, we want voices from all sides to be heard, and we want the news to be just the facts.”
Jennings indicated he’s on board with this mission.
“Roughly half (or more) of the country often feels like legacy media doesn’t care what it thinks and has little interest in fairly representing its views and values,” he wrote. “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. My other professional obligations won’t be impacted by this new opportunity.”
Jennings often sparks outrage from liberals because of his support for president-elect Donald Trump, and his new move is no different.
Media critic Oliver Darcy, who left CNN in August to launch his own newsletter, conducted a highly contentious interview with Soon-Shiong this week about his new vision for the Times.
Darcy took issue with Soon-Shiong’s praise of Jennings, saying it was “very debatable” whether the pro-Trump commentator was “respectful to his fellow panelists.” The interviewer went on to suggest Trump repeatedly lies and promotes conspiracy theories — a claim that angered his guest.
In response, Soon-Shiong said it was the ex-CNN reporter’s “opinion” that Trump “lies more than other politicians.” He then scolded Darcy for transitioning to a conversation about Trump, who was seemingly not the focus of the interview. Soon-Shiong called Darcy a “so-called reporter” before abruptly hanging up the phone.
The move to appoint Jennings comes after the Times publisher blocked the editorial board from endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris for the presidency — the first time the newspaper has not backed a Democratic presidential candidate since 2008. The decision led at least three editorial staffers to resign and nearly 2,000 readers to cancel their subscriptions.
The Washington Post faced similar pushback after owner Jeff Bezos said it would endorse neither Harris nor Trump for president amid the election cycle. Like Soon-Shiong, Bezos affirmed his commitment to hiring more conservative op-ed writers.