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Journalist Paloma Esquivel Resigns from Los Angeles Times Amid Allegations Against Managing Editor
The Los Angeles Times experienced a significant shift last Friday when over 40 veteran staffers opted for a mass buyout, and amidst this transition, Paloma Esquivel, a prominent assistant editor and reporter, tendered her resignation after 17 years with the publication. Esquivel’s departure was not anticipated as she highlighted ongoing issues with management related to human resources complaints against Managing Editor Hector Becerra.
Esquivel, who was part of the Pulitzer Prize-winning teams in both 2011 and 2016, made her resignation public via a company Slack channel, where she also shared a letter addressed to HR manager Maya Dotson and Executive Editor Terry Tang. In her communication, she detailed her concerns about Becerra’s alleged “inappropriate, highly personal, and baseless assessments” regarding the competencies and work ethics of his colleagues, emphasizing that such criticism seemed predominantly directed at women and employees of color.
In her message, Esquivel expressed her disappointment at not receiving a response to her earlier letter from February 3, stating, “This is why, after 17 years of investing myself in the L.A. Times and despite how much I truly love my job as an editor with De Los, I’m leaving the L.A. Times today.” She shared her resignation with the hope that transparency could lead to positive change within the organization.
She further articulated her vision for the future of the Times, a place where all workers feel respected and valued, free from disparagement from those in leadership roles. “Our work is a service to our community. It deserves better,” she concluded.
Shortly after her announcement, Esquivel lost access to the Times’ Slack channels, as reported by TheWrap. The correspondence she shared illuminated a series of alleged instances of misconduct by Becerra, particularly affecting women and individuals of color. This included a joint staff complaint from 2022, which outlined Becerra’s pattern of making degrading comments about colleagues’ abilities and contributions to the newsroom.
In her letter, Esquivel recalled a January confrontation where Becerra reportedly “berated” her for questioning editorial decisions, asserting that she lacked an understanding of the pressures that management faces. She noted that his criticisms of her performance were not intended to address any specific concerns but seemed designed to undermine her confidence.
Esquivel highlighted a previous resignation of a colleague who left due to similar disparagement from Becerra and concluded her letter by seeking clarity on whether the company intended to take action against such behavior.
In response to the unfolding situation, Nancy V. Antoniou, the Chief Human Resources Officer, addressed Esquivel’s public message, emphasizing that the company values employee relations. However, she criticized Esquivel’s choice to share her grievances in a public forum, asserting that the claims of neglect by the company were unfounded. Antoniou indicated that the concerns raised had been addressed in a confidential manner.
Meanwhile, Terry Tang reached out in an email to staff regarding the mass departures, acknowledging the emotional weight of such changes while notably omitting any mention of Esquivel’s allegations.
In a defense of Becerra, Maria L. La Ganga, the deputy managing editor for California and Metro, dismissed Esquivel’s claims as “sadly and blatantly wrong,” asserting that Becerra’s commitment to inclusivity within the newsroom had been well recognized across the industry.
A spokesperson for the L.A. Times reiterated the organization’s policy of not commenting on personnel issues while refuting any claims that they had ignored allegations of misconduct or hostility towards employees.
Source
www.thewrap.com