On Wednesday, February 23rd, 2022, Kevin Merida, executive editor of the Los Angeles Times, came to Loyola Marymount University to have a conversation about his career, and what he hopes to bring to the LA Times in his new role. Through the discussion and faculty and student led panel, LMU students were able to get a closer look behind an inspirational journalist.
Merida started is illustrious career at the Milwaukee Journal, but has since worked for The Dallas Morning News, The Washington Post, and coauthored two books. Merida co-authored ‘Supreme Discomfort: The Divided Soul of Clarence Thomas, about Clarence Thomas, with Michael A. Fletcher. Merida also worked alongside Deborah Willis in 2008 to co-author the bestselling hardcover photo book, Obama, the Historic Campaign in Photographs.
During the panel the question of what Merida could bring to the table as the new Exc. Editor was broached which led to Merida speaking about the importance of being “surrounded by diverse writers who have different backgrounds and bring different viewpoints to the newsroom.” It is important especially right now for there to be diversity and inclusion in the newsrooms. For the last 6 years there has been an incline of one sided journalism that caters to a certain type of person, and not everybody as a whole.
Kate Pickert, the Associate Professor of English, Journalism at LMU, spoke about Merida’s importance here at LMU. Pickert states, “Kevin Merida is important to have at LMU because he leads the largest news organization in the region, and he can inspire our students to see what’s possible and what can be achieved.” Merida took over the LA Times after the height of the Covid-19 pandemic which led to a decline in revenue ultimately causing employees to be furloughed and major pay cuts.
Pickert also delves into the fact that, “Merida is a really important journalist of color, and a really powerful person nationally, and internationally in journalism.” As a black woman in journalism, seeing a successful black man be in charge of the largest newsroom in the region allows me to strive beyond the initial limits and goal I have set for myself. Merida shows a whole generation of young inspiring black journalists that as long as you work hard and keep your integrity no one can ever discredit your importance in the journalism community.
Merida pointed out the significance of “not shrinking yourself,” and how letting people “see you” is crucial to getting your name out there. Allowing yourself to fully be you, and talking about what you want, writing about what you see is important, and not letting anyone stop you is when you will see growth in your writing and internally. Pickert adds how she is “really excited that he comes at a time when the journalism program is growing, and we have such a vibrant student community,” and I do not think I could have said it better myself. Merida being around the corner from LMU gives the journalism students a front row seat to amazing journalism right in our neighborhood.
