John, demand The Los Angeles Times drop its paywall.

[ [link removed] ][IMG]

Coronavirus information should be available to everyone.

[ [link removed] ]Take Action

Dear John.

[ [link removed] ]The Los Angeles Times [ [link removed] ]is withholding life-saving COVID-19 (also
known as Coronavirus) information behind a subscription paywall and this
unjust practice must be stopped. Yesterday, a Los Angeles Times headline
read “Gov. Gavin Newsom orders all Californians to stay at home,” yet only
paying members can access this article because it is hidden behind a
subscription paywall.^1^ 

In the face of this deadly public health threat which the World Health
Organization has designated a pandemic,^2 major news publications are
stepping up to allow full access to critical public health reporting on
Coronavirus without paywall blocks, yet The Los Angeles Times is one of
the few outlets refusing to drop its paywall. Even after over 40 million
people have been ordered to stay home because of this virus.^3

John, Black people already disproportionately suffer from
chronic illnesses,^4 making those over the age of 60 even more susceptible
to Coronavirus infection.^5 The Los Angeles Times is making Black,
low-income, and marginalized communities susceptible to misinformation and
potential bodily harm, while hindering coordinated efforts to inform,
quarantine, and eradicate this virus, by not making valuable public health
information accessible. 

[ [link removed] ]SIGN THE PETITION: Demand The Los Angeles Times drops its subscription
paywall to allow all readers access to comprehensive Coronavirus news
coverage. 

The Los Angeles Times has the fourth-largest circulation among U.S.
newspapers, and is the largest U.S. newspaper not headquartered on the
East Coast.^6 John, the state of California has more residents
than any other state,^7 and as cases of Coronavirus spread, along with
misinformation about this virus, access to complete and comprehensive
reporting can have critical influence on the health of individuals and
communities. 

The Los Angeles Times withholding of vital Coronavirus reporting is a
systemic manipulation of information that can do mass harm to the Black
community as many of our people are already uninsured. Creatives and
hourly wage employees who are now facing job loss, over the age of 60 with
chronic illnesses - compounded with the many ways Black people and
communities are already systematically disadvantaged both in quality in
life and access to healthcare, without the threat of Coronavirus.

John, information is a vital tool for preventing wide-spread
infection that can negatively affect, not only our communities but the
nation as a whole. News outlets must see the responsibility of being a
public service and provide comprehensive public education about the
illness, how it spreads, and best safety practices - along with
communicating the harms and threats of this virus to the communities they
claim to serve. 

[ [link removed] ]SIGN THE PETITION: Demand The Los Angeles Times drops its subscription
paywall to allow all readers access to comprehensive Coronavirus news
coverage. 

Black people already face extensive barriers in accessing justice,
economic, and health related equality in this country. Access to accurate
and comprehensive Coronavirus information is critical in countering
negative perceptions against vital information provided by non-Black
institutions and medical distrust that could lead to the spread of harmful
misinformation or lack of treatment, putting many people amongst our
family and friends in direct harm of contracting this virus.^8,9,10

This unique crisis has illuminated the varying ways in which
socio-economic barriers have always affected the health and quality of
life of those who are underprivileged, underpaid, and underrepresented.
According to a recent NPR/Marist Poll, 18% of households report someone
being laid off or having a reduction in hours due to the Coronavirus
outbreak.^11 Black people, specifically Black women, disproportionately
make up the retail market work force that is fighting for continued pay as
stores close.^12

As cases of Coronavirus continue to spread and Coronavirus layoffs surge,
news outlets have a responsibility to be public servants and to
communicate harms and threats to the communities they claim to serve,
whether or not they can pay. John, potentially life-saving
Coronavirus information should be available to everyone.

[ [link removed] ]SIGN THE PETITION: Demand The Los Angeles Times drops its subscription
paywall to allow all readers access to comprehensive Coronavirus news
coverage. 

Until justice is real,

--Brandi, Rashad, Arisha, Evan, Johnny, Jade, Future, Eesha, Samantha,
Marcus, FolaSade, Jennette, Cierra and the rest of the Color Of Change
team

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References:

 1. "Gov. Gavin Newsom Orders All Californians To Stay At Home,” The Los
Angeles Times, March 19,
2020, [ [link removed] ][link removed]
 2. “Coronavirus: COVID-19 Is Now Officially A Pandemic, WHO Says,” NPR,
March 11, 2020,
[ [link removed] ][link removed]
 3. “All Californians, Nearly 40 Million People, Have Been Ordered To Stay
Home To Stop The Spread Of The Coronavirus,” Buzzfeed, March 19, 2020,
[ [link removed] ][link removed]
 4. “Profile: Black/African Americans,” U.S. Dept. Of Health and Human
Services Office of Minority Health, August 22, 2019,
[ [link removed] ][link removed]
 5. “Public Health Expert Says African Americans Are At Greater Risk Of
Death From Coronavirus,” The Undefeated, March 13, 2020,
[ [link removed] ][link removed]
 6. “Los Angeles Times, Searching for Stability, Names Norman Pearlstine
Top Editor,” The New York Times, June 18, 2018,
[ [link removed] ][link removed]
 7.  “California’s Population,” Public Policy Institute of California,
2020, [ [link removed] ][link removed]
 8. “Don’t Believe The Myth That Black People Can’t Get Coronavirus,” The
Philadelphia Inquirer,  March 11, 2020,
[ [link removed] ][link removed]
 9. “Yes, Black People CAN Get Coronavirus (+ other myths/truths),”
YouTube-Dr. Jen Caudle, March 8, 2020,
[ [link removed] ][link removed]
10. “For Urban Poor, the Coronavirus Complicates Existing Health Risks,”
The New York Times, March 7, 2020,
[ [link removed] ][link removed]
11. “Coronavirus Layoffs Surge Across America, Overwhelming Unemployment
Offices,” Politico, March 17, 2020,
[ [link removed] ][link removed]
12. “Private equity’s role in retail has killed 1.3 million jobs, study
says,” The Washington Post, July 24, 2019,
[ [link removed] ][link removed]


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[ [link removed] ]Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black
folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. [ [link removed] ]Help
keep our movement strong.

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