Key Takeaways:
1. Washington Post announced it would not endorse a presidential candidate in the upcoming election or in future elections.
2. The decision sparked outrage from subscribers, current and former employees.
3. The decision by the Washington Post follows a similar one made by the Los Angeles Times, which resulted in three resignations from its editorial board.
4. Many readers threaten to cancel their subscriptions in response.
The Washington Post’s Stance Sparks Controversy
In a recent development, William Lewis, the publisher of The Washington Post, revealed the newspaper’s decision to refrain from endorsing any presidential candidate in this year’s election and future ones. This decision, as Lewis explained on the company’s website, is a return to the roots of the paper.
Criticism from Current and Former Employees
The decision, however, did not sit well with many of the current and former employees of the newspaper, leading to a wave of discontent within the organization. Former Washington Post editor Marty Baron was amongst the critics. Baron, who retired in 2021, denounced the move as cowardice with democracy being the casualty. He further expressed that such a decision is an invitation for further intimidation of powerful people like the newspaper’s owner, billionaire Jeff Bezos.
Following suit, the Washington Post Guild, which represents over 1,000 media workers within the company, expressed immense concern over this intervention of corporate management in the paper’s editorial decision-making process. They pointed out that an endorsement for Vice President Kamala Harris was already drafted, implying alleged interference from Bezos.
Citing the Backlash
Readers and subscribers were not silent spectators either. Cancellations from once loyal readers are already flowing in. Several subscribers used social media platforms to announce the cancellation of their subscriptions, criticizing the billionaire owners for protecting their self-interest over the country’s needs.
Hollywood director Paul Feig and Iowa state senator Zach Wahls shared their disappointment publicly, labeling the decision as timid and cowardly. However, amidst the majority of negative responses, a few readers expressed their support for the non-partisan stance.
Editorial Board Resignations at LA Times
Additionally, this controversial decision resonates with a similar recent incident at the Los Angeles Times, a newspaper also owned by a billionaire. Following owner Patrick Soon-Shiong’s decision to block Vice President Kamala Harris’s endorsement, a wave of resignations ensued.
Foremost amongst this was Mariel Garza, the editorials editor, whose resignation was followed by two other members of its editorial board. Veteran journalists Robert Greene and Karin Klein also announced their resignations a day after Garza. In their statements, they expressed deep disappointment over the owner’s decision, calling it a blow to the principles central to journalism.
Summary
The absence of endorsements from such significant media entities marks a crucial juncture in the impending elections. It has noticeably shaken the journalistic community and the readers alike. Despite the controversy, the ultimate impact of these surprising decisions remains to be fully unraveled as the elections draw nearer. Regardless of divided opinions, what is undeniable is the shift in traditional journalistic practices as depicted by these significant media houses. And as the dust settles and the shock subsides, only time will tell where alignment will be found in the disrupted landscape of media endorsements.
The executives at both The Washington Post and Los Angeles Times did not respond to requests for commentary on these controversial decisions.