Should NEWSPAPERS ENDORSE political CANDIDATES?

[AviatorTom]

For the first time in decades, the Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times are not endorsing any candidate for Presidency in 2024.

What do you think of this?

Is this an unusual thing, a one-off for this election? Or is it the beginning of a trend?

Should newspapers (and other media) endorse candidates?

[OlderAndWiser]

Perhaps someone above the level of the Editorial Board has gotten disgusted at how far these newspapers have wandered from the basic standards of professional journalism, and this is their way of making a correction that will draw instant attention.

It is also a confession that they cannot bring themselves to endorse Harris.

[purplepoppy]

Newspapers just seem to be political mouthpieces with little regard to actual news, democracy is being decided by a handful of billionaires dripfeeding their masters propagenda into our homes under the disguise of news.

In the UK it doesn't matter too much because the parties aren't too far apart but as American parties lurch towards extremism I wonder if Newspapers no longer want to get into bed with them for fear of being linked to unsavoury groups or unethical actions of the new president once in office.

Of course they could just be hedging their bets or they've realised if you lean one way you lose 50% of your potential customers.

[sage2021]

I think it's not best to have a newspaper endorse a presidential candidate because for one thing, it's a newspaper not a person but of many people who put it out.
I don't think it would be fair to the employee's that work for the newspaper to speak for them. It is an individuals choice who the want as their president and not some conglomeration that they work for.

[Dongie]

If the paper can be controlled that way, I guess it is fair.

[exitseven]

Newspapers offer opinions and can offer opinions about a lot of things including political candidates. This is a practice that has gone on for decades. The fact that the Washington Post would not endorse Harris speaks volumes. She is totally unfit to be president.

[exitseven]

Thanks for the MHO😎

[Anonymous]

I don't believe so. I don't believe corporate interests should be able to use the media as propaganda for their choosen candidate and influence elections. Newspapers should report the news only, same as news stations. If they aren't impartial then they shouldn't be able to operate as news media organisations and their journalists should lose their status as certified journalists.

[Dongie]

If a voter is influenced by the far outsider such as a newspaper, then they shouldn't be voting actually.

[Opinion Owner]

@Dongie but they are. The media can absolutely destroy a candidate. We saw that in Britain with the media demolition of labour candidate Jermy Corban and Arthur Scarsdale.

[Dongie]

By endorsement or giving facts about the guy?

[Opinion Owner]

@Dongie by smear campaign. Newspapers should report the news. That's left wing and right wing.

[Dongie]

I agree. There should be guidelines where newspapers can be held liable as well as TV news reporters. But the question touches on endorsement, not smear tactics.

[Opinion Owner]

@Dongie there are rules on liability. Papers don't care because if they have to pay 3 million pounds as damages they might have sold 10 million extra papers so it's just the cost of doing buisness to them.
In my first comment I did state that newspapers shouldn't engage in propaganda or attempt to influence elections with endorsements.

[Dongie]

Alrighty.

[Dargil]

Like it or not, its not a matter of Should. Its a matter of the First Amendment. That includes Dis-Mis-Malinformation

[Dongie]

That's a very good amendment.

[lightbulb27]

no, that's mind control. think for yourself.

[noohair]

Newspapers are so 20th century. I think for myself. Endorsements have little value to me

[Anonymous]

Kamala is so shitty, that even the LA Times won't endorse her.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/iYIpNnr6oi0

[robocop666]

Journalists and law people are mostly left wing so we have to put up with it

[Dongie]

Let me guess, Tom. In every past endorsement of the last 302 years they've pinned the democrat.

[Dongie]

*32 !