Here Are the Best and Worst Things That Happened to Journalism in 2018

Jamal Khashoggi’s death was a reminder of the dangers journalists across the world faced in 2018. [Emrah Gurel/AP]

In 2018, those who follow the fortunes of journalism in America probably heard a name — and, separately, a terrible nickname — for the first time.

The name is Patrick Soon-Shiong, a South African-born surgeon and philanthropist. Once described as the richest doctor in history, the billionaire bought the Los Angeles Times in June, providing a rare jolt of joy in the troubled world of local and regional journalism.

Historically one of the nation’s best and most storied newspapers, the Times has been besieged in recent years by owners and managers who would make a plague of locusts look like a litter of labradoodles.

Now, the Times is on the upswing — hiring robustly and, under veteran editor Norman Pearlstine, getting its mojo back.

Margaret Sullivan, writing for the Washington Post, looks back at 2018.