Nika Soon-Shiong, daughter of LA Times owner Patrick Soon-Shiong, criticized her father's newspaper for running an Israeli tourism advertisement that omits Palestinian territories from its map. Drop Site News, the publication Nika runs, detailed how the ad, produced by LA Times Studios and sponsored by Israel’s Ministry of Tourism, contradicts international law by not recognizing occupied territories. Online reactions ranged from outrage to light-hearted criticism of Nika's stance. James Queally, a staff writer for the LA Times, clarified that the newspaper itself does not support the advertisement, which is part of its branded content arm rather than editorial output.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-04,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
The daughter of LA Times owner Patrick Soon-Shiong scolded her father for allowing an Israeli tourism advert to run in the newspaper.
asserted
advert → scold → newspaper
Nika Soon-Shiong, a vocal pro-Palestine activist and publisher, hit out at the news outlet after learning that it's sharing a map of Israel on its website.
asserted
it → hit → website
The map is part of a sponsored tourism ad, and, according to Nika, it 'completely erases the occupied Palestinian territories.
uncertain
it → sponsor → territories
Drop Site News, the independent publication that the 33-year-old runs, shared a lengthy post on X shaming the LA Times for running the map.
asserted
News → share → map
The sponsored content, labeled "Paid Program" and produced by the paper's branded content arm, LA Times Studios, is titled "Israel: Land of Creation," and paid for by the official tourism campaign of Israel's Ministry of Tourism.
asserted
content → label → Tourism
'Its map shows a single, borderless Israel from the Mediterranean to the Jordan River, with no West Bank or Gaza, and appears to fold in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights,' the self-described 'non-aligned, investigative news organization' wrote.
asserted
organization → show → Heights
The publication went on to claim that although the promotion does not violate US law, it 'contradicts international law.
uncertain
it → go → law
'
'The UN Security Council declared Israel's 1981 annexation of the Golan "null and void," and the International Court of Justice found in 2024 that Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory is unlawful and that states must not recognize it,' the post continued.
asserted
post → declare → it
Nika Soon-Shiong, the daughter of LA Times executive Patrick Soon-Shiong, slammed the paper for sharing an Israeli tourism advert
Patrick is the CEO and chairman of the Los Angeles Times Media Group, which consists of LA Times, LA Times Studios, and other brands.
asserted
which → slam → Times
His net worth is estimated at $18.4 billion, according to Bloomberg
Just hours before her site shared its views on her father's paper, Soon-Shiong shared a link to the advertisement page and wrote: 'WHAT ON EARTH?'
uncertain
Shiong → estimate → EARTH
The ad was paid for by Israel's Ministry of Tourism, according to Drop Site.
uncertain
ad → pay → Site
Nika's discovery ignited a firestorm online, as many were just as outraged over the advert.
asserted
many → ignite → advert
'Shame on @latimes for running a paid #propaganda #campaign that completely erases #Palestine and the #Golan Heights,' an X user shared.
asserted
user → run → Palestine
Another posted: 'Shame on the @latimes.
asserted
Another → post → @latimes
'Everything is wrong with LA Times,' wrote someone else.
asserted
someone → write → Times
Meanwhile, others appeared to make light of Nika and her outlet calling out LA Times over the ad.
asserted
Nika → appear → ad
The horror,' a user shared.
asserted
user → share → ?
Another person simply suggested that Nika talk to her dad about her outrage.
uncertain
Nika → suggest → outrage
'Maybe talk to dad sometime!' a person said.
asserted
person → talk → dad
After the advertisement was revealed, James Queally, a staff writer for the LA Times, shared that the newspaper is not behind it.
asserted
newspaper → reveal → it
'Just to be clear, the Los Angeles Times is not doing this,' Queally shared on X.
'
asserted
Queally → do → X.
LA Times Studios -- a site company our owner runs using our branding for all kinds of ads, sponsored content and non-journalism that we have no input in -- is.
asserted
we → run → input
The journalist shared a second post to further back his statement.
asserted
journalist → share → statement
We have tried to negotiate and questioned if Studios would follow any ethical journalism norms or guidelines for years.
asserted
Studios → try → years
We are repeatedly told they are a "separate company",' Queally added.
asserted
Queally → tell → ?
LA Times Studio and the LA Times are both part of the Los Angeles Media Group, which is led by Patrick, the CEO and chairman.
asserted
which → lead → Patrick
His net worth is estimated at $18.4 billion, according to Bloomberg.
uncertain
worth → estimate → Bloomberg
After Nika slammed her father's paper in 2024, he made it clear that she was not affiliated with the LA Times
This is not the first time that Nika has slammed her father's company.
Before the 2024 presidential election, she claimed that the LA Times did not endorse former Vice President Kamala Harris because 'the endorsement was an opportunity to repudiate justification for the widespread targeting of journalists and ongoing war on children.'
asserted
endorsement → slam → children
In response, Patrick made it clear that Nika is not at all affiliated with his company.
asserted
Nika → make → company
'Nika speaks in her own personal capacity regarding her opinion, as every community member has the right to do,' he said.
asserted
he → speak → right
'She does not have any role at the L.A. Times, nor does she participate in any decision or discussion with the editorial board, as has been made clear many times.'
asserted
she → have → board
The Daily Mail contacted Nika and Patrick Soon-Shiong for comment.
asserted
Mail → contact → comment
The Aporia
