Washington Post Makes Surprising Move on Presidential Endorsements

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The Washington Post has decided to forgo presidential endorsements, a decision announced by publisher Will Lewis on Friday. This announcement came shortly after the paper’s journalists had prepared an endorsement for Vice President Kamala Harris, a decision reportedly made by owner Jeff Bezos.

According to a Post staff member, two board members had been drafting the endorsement for several weeks. When the process stalled, concerns among editorial writers grew, with editorial page editor David Shipley explaining at a recent meeting that the endorsement was anticipated to proceed, noting its importance to the owner’s interests. However, the editorial board was taken aback when Shipley informed them that the endorsement would not be published, marking the first time the Post has abstained from a presidential endorsement since 1988.

Following this revelation, Lewis published an opinion piece stating that the decision would be interpreted in various ways, but insisted it was not a statement against any candidate. The Post’s report clarified that the endorsement decision originated from Bezos.

NPR reported that management had known for some time there would be no endorsement, with Shipley claiming ownership of the decision. However, a source disagreed, stating that Shipley had previously been supportive of the endorsement.

Additionally, this decision resonates with recent events at the Los Angeles Times, where editorials editor Mariel Garza resigned in protest of publisher Patrick Soon-Shiong’s move to block an endorsement for Harris. The Times has seen a history of abstaining from endorsements during certain presidential elections, resuming in 2008, while endorsing Democrats in the last four elections.

Staff discontent is rising at both publications as they consider the implications of not endorsing given their previous critiques of Donald Trump’s actions and rhetoric, particularly his falsehoods and his role in the January 6 insurrection.

Democracy expert Ian Bassin describes these decisions as “anticipatory obedience,” suggesting that media owners may fear repercussions from Trump should he regain the presidency. Both Bezos and Soon-Shiong, who bought their respective papers for substantial sums, have faced scrutiny for their management decisions amid economic challenges in both newsrooms.

Former Post editor Martin Baron criticized the decision to withhold an endorsement, calling it cowardice and suggesting it undermines journalistic integrity. Social media reactions also reflect disappointment, including subscription cancellations from readers who question the role of endorsements in maintaining balanced news coverage.

In contrast, Soon-Shiong and his daughter attempted to explain the Times’ actions through social media, leading to confusion among staff regarding the motivations behind their decision.

Lewis attempted to justify the Post’s stance as a return to its historical values while asserting that the decision supports readers’ autonomy in choosing candidates. Both newspapers are facing backlash from their unions, which have expressed concerns over management interference in editorial decisions. The Washington Post Guild has pointedly criticized the decision, emphasizing its conflict with the work of its editorial team.

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