Jeff Bezos, the owner of The Washington Post, has publicly defended the publication’s decision to discontinue its long-standing tradition of endorsing presidential candidates. In an Op-Ed published in the newspaper on Monday night, Bezos explained that the choice to refrain from endorsing either Kamala Harris or Donald Trump was made to enhance public trust in the media.
He emphasized that newspapers face the challenge of not only delivering accurate news but also ensuring that the public perceives it as truthful. He argued that endorsing a presidential candidate can create a perception of bias, which undermines the paper’s independence. “Ending them is a principled decision, and it’s the right one,” Bezos stated.
While he acknowledged that the removal of endorsements might not drastically bolster reader trust, he considered it “a meaningful step in the right direction.” Bezos conceded that the decision to end endorsements should have been communicated sooner, describing the oversight as a failure in planning rather than a deliberate choice.
Since the announcement on Friday, The Post has faced backlash, including resignations and a reported influx of canceled subscriptions. Editorial board members David Hoffman and Molly Roberts resigned in protest, with Roberts asserting that the decision was influenced by Bezos rather than the editorial board and emphasizing the necessity to endorse Harris over Trump. She criticized the newspaper’s silence, stating that it aligns with Trump’s desire for the media to remain quiet.
Additionally, a letter signed by twenty-one columnists labeled the decision a “terrible mistake” and an abandonment of the newspaper’s core editorial principles. Reports indicate that over 200,000 digital subscriptions have been canceled as of Monday in reaction to the change.
In his Op-Ed, Bezos minimized the impact of newspaper endorsements on presidential elections, reaffirming that the termination of this practice represents a “meaningful step in the right direction.” He also clarified that the decision was not influenced by his other ventures, including Blue Origin, his aerospace company, while hinting at potential future changes to restore public trust in the newspaper.
“To win this fight, we will have to exercise new muscles. Some changes will be a return to the past, and some will be new inventions. Criticism will be part and parcel of anything new, of course,” he said. Bezos acquired The Washington Post for $250 million in 2013 and remains one of the wealthiest individuals globally.