Dear reader,
My name is James Queally. I’m the secretary of the Los Angeles Times Guild, the union for Times journalists, and the paper’s criminal courts reporter. You’re getting this message because at one point, you signed a petition in support of our journalists and our mission to bring you the best coverage of our city that’s fit to print. Now, we need your help to keep delivering on that promise.
We know The Times has been in the news a lot lately for things beyond our control, so we thought it was important for you to hear from us directly. I’ve been here for 10 years. I helped found this union. I’ve worked here through wildfires, riots, a pandemic, and an ownership change that has obviously caused some controversy. Since 2023, we’ve had two rounds of massive layoffs and this month the company announced buyouts that will further reduce our staff. I’ve been hit by tear gas and arrested for this paper, and what we’re going through now is demonstrably worse.
But I still believe in this place, its mission and its ability to bring you journalism of a caliber few other news organizations can. So I wanted to share some of it with you today, to remind you of the value of the L.A. Times and an L.A. Times subscription.
What our coverage says
As devastating wildfires burned last month in L.A. County, Times journalists provided some of the most clear-eyed, fact-driven reporting on the damage, as well as deep analysis of the decisions that may or may not have contributed to it. Here’s some of our best recent work:
Why hydrants ran dry as firefighters battled California’s deadly fires
Amid dangerous winds in 2011, LAFD engines stood ready. That didn’t happen this time
Late evacuation orders in Altadena raise haunting question: Could more lives have been spared?
The start of the Palisades and Eaton fires: 24 hours that changed Los Angeles
Our resource guide for dealing with the fallout of the L.A. Fires
The doctor dilemma
It’s no secret that the owner of The Times, Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, has been voicing his political opinions and, at times, misrepresenting our journalism — a stark change from when he saved the paper in 2018. (And make no mistake about it, whatever anyone’s frustrations are with the man, he saved the L.A. Times.)
We appreciate the time and money he has spent to help an essential California institution. But that does not give him carte blanche to misrepresent our work.
On Jan. 8, Dr. Soon-Shiong claimed on X that Mayor Karen Bass cut the Los Angeles Fire Department’s budget ahead of the devastating wildfires. Our reporting found a more complicated situation.
On Feb. 1, Dr. Soon-Shiong shared a post from Elon Musk — citing an L.A. Times story — claiming officials had deliberately withheld water from Northern California that could have helped (or, according to President Trump, prevented) the deadly wildfires in Los Angeles. None of that was true, and it was a misrepresentation of our journalism. You can read the stories, which explain how the water flowed and how it wouldn’t have helped during the fires, here and here.
Why are we telling you this?
Because we understand many of our readers are concerned about Dr. Soon-Shiong’s recent statements. We want you to know the journalists of the L.A. Times remain as a bulwark against distortions of reality, even if those calls are coming from inside the house.
We stand ready to fight against any misinformation or attempts to influence our journalism.
Why you’re receiving this email
Back in April, you signed a petition in support of L.A. Times journalists, who have been bargaining a union contract for more than two years now. You may have spoken to one of our reporters at the L.A. Times Festival of Books, or come across the petition online.
We’re still fighting for that contract. It’s been more than 800 days since negotiations began and our managers continue to drag their feet by not making serious offers on pay (our journalists have gone years without a raise) or policies governing the use of artificial intelligence and in-office work. We soldier on in spite of this, but if you care about a strong and free press, then please urge our owner and his team to work to bring this contract to a close.
If you share our concern about the newspaper’s future, please keep an eye out for our updates, we’ll soon be sharing more about how you can help.
We hope you’ll follow along with our occasional updates and support us in our fight. We only want what’s fair. It’s what we always try to bring to you.
In solidarity,
James Queally
Proud L.A. Times Guild Member
The Guild Eagle is an occasional newsletter from L.A. Times Guild members. Sign up to get updates in your email.