Kevin Merida, Executive Editor of the Los Angeles Times, is a journalist who has witnessed the history of the civil rights restoration in the United States. In June 2021, Merida joined the LA Times, the West Coast’s largest newspaper, following a distinguished 22-year tenure as a congressional correspondent and editor at the Washington Post, and later as Senior Vice President and Editor-In-Chief at ESPN. An iconic figure in minority journalism, Merida has authored books based on his extensive research and reporting on Barack Obama and the lives of black men.
Merida has been paying close attention to the history and concerns of the Korean-American community and is looking forward with high expectations to the collaboration with the Korea Daily. He believes that today’s media should do more to protect the things we value.
-You were often a ‘first’ for a black journalist.
“It began as the first journalist of color to become an assistant managing editor for national and foreign news at the Dallas Morning News in the early 1990s. I was in my mid-30s, and there weren’t many black journalists. I covered the White House during the first Bush presidency. Later, when I took on a Managing Editor role at the Washington Post, I was always recognized as a first.”
-How do you define journalism after nearly 40 years in the field?
“Journalism is fundamentally about discovering and delivering facts. It is about holding the powerful accountable. The mission of journalism extends to researching, tracking, and fostering discussions on issues that resonate with community members. I believe that journalism is what makes readers laugh, cry, and happy through its reporting.”
-As the West Coast’s largest newspaper, the company recently made some staffing changes. What’s changed?
“The entire media industry is in a state of flux, especially at a time when newspapers are losing readership. It’s a tough time to be in business, and it’s time to think about diversifying how and where you tell your stories. Newsrooms are still well-staffed and will continue to focus their coverage on all corners of society.”
-Some articles are published on the website before they are available in print. Is there an online-first principle?
“No, it’s a strategic balancing. Online is available 24 hours and the newspaper comes out in the morning. Sometimes the articles can be online only or they could have a different story with a different focus. Readers might see the same story more than once, and that’s also part of our strategy.”
-Korean news is also often covered by LA Times’ Korean correspondents.
“Korean news is of interest to LA Times readers. The recent article on the Senior Army in Korea got a lot of attention. LA is home to the largest Korean-American community and a large Asian-American community in broad. LA Times will continue to develop interesting stories.”
-Many readers are accessing news through mobile apps now. Are newspapers destined to disappear?
“People are now getting their news from many different sources. But to delve into the core of critical issues, there’s a role for traditional media. Whether it’s the Monterey Park shooting or California’s wildfires, people need media that can point to the underlying causes and outlook, not just the surface of the issue.”
-LA Times has its own TikTok channel. What is the main content?
“I heard it has 310,000 followers. The content resonates well with TikTok’s style, focusing on things that are close to everyday life. Within the team, there are people with skills. They use a variety of subject matter and formats to communicate with its followers.”
-The Korea Daily signed a content licensing agreement with LA Times. Why are Korean-American voices and stories important?
“Our readers are a vital part of our society. If we didn’t speak for them, it would be problematic. We want to reflect the interests and concerns of Korean Americans in our newspaper, otherwise we have no reason to exist. LA Times will always have an open door, and our journalists will always be there to communicate.”
-The 1992 Los Angeles Riots remain a wound for many. What should the civil society of LA do about it?
“At that time, I was at the Dallas Morning News and remember sending journalists to LA. These wounds are something the local media must endeavor to heal. Recent events, like the leak of a city councilman’s racial slur in 2022, show that there’s still a long way to go. The role of the media in such contexts is to persistently report, raise awareness, and provide guidance.”
BY BRIAN CHOI, HOONSIK WOO [ichoi@koreadaily.com]
