The New York Post announced plans to launch a daily newspaper in Los Angeles called The California Post.
“Los Angeles and California surely need a daily dose of The Post as an antidote to the jaundiced, jaded journalism that has sadly proliferated,” declared Robert Thomson, CEO of The Post’s parent company, News Corp. “We are at a pivotal moment for the city and the state, and there is no doubt that The Post will play a crucial role in engaging and enlightening readers, who are starved of serious reporting and puckish wit.”
The California Post will mirror The New York Post but concentrate on California stories.
The new paper will include national and international news written by those in New York.
Axios noted that 90% of The New York Post‘s readership lives outside of New York.
Journalist Nick Papps will lead the charge:
Veteran journalist Nick Papps will take the reins as editor in chief, bringing nearly two decades of experience. He has helped drive editorial and commercial success at multiple publications, including as News Corp Australia’s West Coast correspondent for nearly three years when Papps was based in LA.The new venture from The New York Post Media Group — home to The Post, Page Six and Decider — will also expand the oversight of New York Post Editor in Chief Keith Poole.“He will now be responsible for covering not just New York, but California, the US, the world and perhaps, Mars,” Thomson quipped.
“This is the next manifestation of our national brand,” explained Poole. ”California is the most populous state in the country, and is the epicenter of entertainment, the AI revolution and advanced manufacturing — not to mention a sports powerhouse. Yet many stories are not being told, and many viewpoints are not being represented.”
Los Angeles is ripe for a boost in journalism.
The Los Angeles Times has a history of bias, causing an explosion in October after owner Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong refused to allow the paper to endorse a presidential candidate.
Mariel Garza resigned as The Los Angeles Times‘ editorial editor over the move, admitting it’s “a very liberal paper.”
Soon-Shiong did not back down, promising a new editorial board and wanting to bring back balance to the paper later that month:
He wrote on X, “The Editorial Board was provided the opportunity to draft a factual analysis of all the POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE policies by EACH candidate during their tenures at the White House, and how these policies affected the nation.In addition, the Board was asked to provide their understanding of the policies and plans enunciated by the candidates during this campaign and its potential effect on the nation in the next four years. In this way, with this clear and non-partisan information side-by-side, our readers could decide who would be worthy of being President for the next four years.”“Instead of adopting this path as suggested, the Editorial Board chose to remain silent and I accepted their decision. Please #vote,” the message concluded.
Two weeks ago, Soon-Shiong announced the L.A. Times Next Network and taking the paper public:
The new diversified media company is designed to rebuild trust in media and give voice to all by combining verified information, emerging technologies, and community participation across news, culture, entertainment, sports, and civic engagement.The Network consists of five coordinated pillars: the Los Angeles Times; LAT Next, a curated creator platform; Nant Games, focused on esports and civic/scientific gaming; NantStudios Virtual Production, offering real-time virtual production capabilities; and L.A. Times Studios, supporting streaming, live events, and forums.The initiative will also pursue a novel Reg A+ financing, led by the investment bank Digital Offering, to broaden public ownership and participation allowing the readers, supporters and fans of the Los Angeles Times to become shareholders.
“It’s important for the paper to have the voices of all, and that’s what I wanted to do, right?” Soon-Shiong told Jon Stewart on The Daily Show. “Whether you’re right, left, Democrat, Republican, you’re an American, so the opportunity for us to provide a paper that is the voices of the people, truly the voices of the people, so I’m going to announce something to you tonight… we’re literally going to take the L.A. Times public and allow it to be democratized.”
The Los Angeles Times lost $50 billion in 2024 and fire 115 staffers.
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