The Washington Post announced on Friday that it will no longer endorse presidential candidates, halting a tradition of endorsements that dates back decades. The decision, reportedly made by the paper’s owner, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, stirred controversy as it was revealed that an editorial in favor of Democratic nominee Kamala Harris over GOP nominee Donald Trump had already been prepared by staff. Historically, the newspaper endorsed Trump’s Democratic opponents in both 2016 and 2020, which sparked criticism from Trump, who has been vocal against Bezos.
The decision was communicated by Post publisher and CEO Will Lewis as returning to the paper’s roots of non-endorsement, despite backlash from readers and the Post’s journalists. Critics, including former Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, viewed it as a failure to stand against perceived threats to democracy. The Washington Post Guild expressed concern that management’s influence may have affected journalistic integrity.
The move mirrors a recent decision by The Los Angeles Times to refrain from endorsements, prompting the resignation of its editorial board head. This shift in policy by major newspapers has ignited a broader debate about the role of media endorsements in democratic elections and the potential for perceived bias or external influence.
Original Story https://www.cnbc.com/2024/10/25/jeff-bezos-killed-washington-post-endorsement-of-kamala-harris-.html
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