In a historic move, Terry Tang has been officially named the executive editor of the Los Angeles Times, making her the first woman to hold this position in the newspaper’s 142-year history. Tang had been leading the newsroom on an interim basis since January, during which time she focused on reorganizing the newsroom, forming her own leadership team, and placing a greater emphasis on traditional news reporting. The owner of the Times, Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, praised Tang for her capabilities in building on the legacy of excellence in journalism and telling stories that matter.
Tang’s appointment comes at a challenging time for the news institution, as it recently announced significant layoffs that affected more than 20% of the newsroom. This latest round of job cuts followed a previous reduction of about 13% of the newsroom’s staff. Tang takes over from Kevin Merida, who left abruptly after a 2 1/2 year tenure. Despite the challenges facing the news industry, Tang expressed her commitment to leading the Los Angeles Times and making its work indispensable to readers in California and beyond.
Born in Taipei, Taiwan, Tang has deep roots in Southern California, having immigrated to Los Angeles at a young age. She graduated from Yale University with a degree in economics and later earned a law degree from New York University School of Law. Prior to joining the Los Angeles Times, Tang worked at the American Civil Liberties Union and the New York Times in various roles for a total of 20 years. She also served as a Nieman Fellow at Harvard University in the early 1990s. Tang’s experience and background make her well-equipped to lead the newsroom in these challenging times.
The issue of layoffs and buyouts has impacted the U.S. news industry as a whole, with major companies like The Washington Post, NPR, CNN, and Vox Media also facing staff reductions. The Los Angeles Times had to make significant cuts as the company was no longer able to sustain losses of up to $40 million per year without increasing advertising and subscription revenue. Soon-Shiong, a biotech billionaire who acquired the Times in 2018, has been working to revitalize the newspaper after years of decline and instability. The purchase of the Times by Soon-Shiong raised hopes for the future of the publication after a period of cutbacks, circulation declines, and leadership changes.
Terry Tang’s leadership as executive editor is seen as a positive step forward for the Los Angeles Times as it navigates the challenges of the modern news industry. Tang’s commitment to quality journalism, traditional news reporting, and serving the community will be essential in ensuring the Times’ continued relevance and impact. As the first woman to hold the executive editor position, Tang’s appointment marks a historic moment in the newspaper’s long history and symbolizes the changing landscape of newsrooms across the country. With Tang at the helm, the Los Angeles Times looks to continue its mission of being a pillar of democracy and bringing attention to important issues that affect the community and beyond.
