Major newspapers face backlash and subscription losses after refusing to endorse in the 2024 presidential race.
At a Glance
- The Washington Post and LA Times decided not to endorse a presidential candidate, breaking long-standing traditions
- Over 207,000 subscriptions were canceled following the newspapers’ announcements
- Former President Trump criticized the papers, suggesting their stance indicates Vice President Harris is “no good”
- Critics argue the non-endorsement is a failure to stand against the perceived threat of another Trump presidency
Newspapers Break Tradition, Face Backlash
In a surprising turn of events, The Los Angeles Times and The Washington Post have decided to abandon their long-standing tradition of presidential endorsements, sparking widespread criticism and substantial subscription cancellations. This marks a significant departure from 2020 when both papers endorsed Joe Biden, and for The Washington Post, it’s the first non-endorsement since 1988.
The decision has led to a substantial loss in readership, with The Washington Post experiencing over 200,000 cancellations and The Los Angeles Times seeing more than 7,000 cancellations for “editorial reasons.” This mass exodus of subscribers has raised concerns about the newspapers’ ability to fund quality journalism in the future.
Criticism from Within and Without
The move has been met with strong criticism from both inside and outside the news organizations. Former Washington Post editor Marty Baron did not mince words, calling the decision a “disturbing spinelessness at an institution famed for courage.”
“This is a self-inflicted wound on the part of the Washington Post,” Martin Baron said.
At the Los Angeles Times, the decision led to internal protests and staff resignations. Mariel Garza, the LA Times editorials editor, resigned in protest, stating, “I am resigning because I want to make it clear that I am not OK with us being silent.”
WHY MAJOR NEWSPAPERS WON’T ENDORSE KAMALA HARRIS
In a surprising turn during the tight 2024 presidential race, both *The Washington Post* and *Los Angeles Times* decided not to endorse Kamala Harris, despite their past criticism of Donald Trump’s leadership. *The L.A. Times*…
— 𝗕𝗼𝗯 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸𝘀 🇺🇸🗽🇺🇦🙀🦆🧀☕️ 🐾🥬🍳🌮🥡 (@bob_weeks) October 28, 2024
Trump’s Response and Political Implications
Former President Donald Trump seized on the newspapers’ decisions, interpreting them as an implicit criticism of Vice President Kamala Harris’s candidacy. In a statement, Trump suggested that the papers’ refusal to endorse was tantamount to saying Harris is “no good.”
“The Washington Post and Los Angeles Times and all these papers. They’re not endorsing anybody. You know what they’re really saying? Because they only endorse Democrats — they’re saying this Democrat’s no good. They’re no good. And, they think I’m doing a great job, they just don’t want to say it.” – Donald Trump
This interpretation has intensified the debate about media responsibility and accountability in the current political climate. Critics argue that by not taking a stance, these influential newspapers are failing in their duty to inform the public and defend democratic values.
The Rationale Behind Non-Endorsement
The newspapers’ owners cited concerns about perceived bias as their reason for withdrawing from endorsements. Jeff Bezos, owner of The Washington Post, argued that not endorsing candidates helps avoid creating a perception of bias among readers. Similarly, Patrick Soon-Shiong of the LA Times offered the editorial board the option to write a factual analysis of candidates’ policies instead of an endorsement.
“The Washington Post will not be making an endorsement of a presidential candidate in this election. Nor in any future presidential election. We are returning to our roots of not endorsing presidential candidates.” – William Lewis
However, this rationale has done little to quell the controversy. Many see the decision as a failure to take a stand at a critical moment for American democracy. As the 2024 election approaches, the impact of these non-endorsements on public opinion and voting behavior remains to be seen.
Sources:
- L.A. Times, Washington Post see subscription cancellations over not endorsing in presidential race
- Donald Trump: Non-Endorsing LA Times, Washington Post Say Kamala Harris Is ‘No Good’
- The Washington Post and LA Times refused to endorse a candidate. Why?
- Washington Post halts presidential endorsements, sending shock waves through the newsroom and beyond
