The Washington Post ends political endorsements, sparking internal and external backlash

In a surprising shift in policy, The Washington Post has announced it will no longer endorse political candidates, a change that has stirred reactions both internally and externally. This decision was revealed to both readers and employees last Friday, prompting a mix of shock, surprise, and anger from many within the organization.

The Washington Post’s ceo, Will Lewis, stated that the decision to refrain from endorsing candidates was made in light of changing journalistic and public dynamics. He acknowledged that some may perceive this move as “an abdication of responsibility,” a sentiment echoed by several of the paper’s employees. The change aligns The Washington Post with the Los Angeles Times, which similarly ceased candidate endorsements.

The editorial board had reportedly been preparing to endorse Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for president, a draft of which had already been sent to the publication’s owner, Jeff Bezos. The decision to steer away from endorsements was communicated to the staff during a tense internal meeting led by David Shipley, the top opinion editor. Some editorial board members expressed frustration over the sudden shift, as they were informed only shortly before the public announcement.

In the wake of the decision, Robert Kagan, a prominent journalist and editor-at-large at The Washington Post, resigned in protest. According to various reports, other members of the editorial team are contemplating similar actions, with one board member describing the mood as one of being “shocked, furious, surprised.” The sentiment within the organisation has been one of discontent, with calls for more assertive leadership being voiced in internal discussions.

The decision not to endorse candidates does not appear to be linked to any particular meeting or lack thereof with the presidential candidates’ campaigns. Despite seeking meetings with both Democratic nominee Kamala Harris and Republican nominee Donald Trump, neither campaign committed to meeting with The Washington Post’s leadership. Assurances had been given to the Harris campaign that such a meeting would not influence the endorsement decision. However, it seems that the paper’s leadership had already decided on a new endorsement policy, which was underlined when neither meeting came to fruition.

Externally, the absence of endorsements has also affected the newspaper’s readership. The Washington Post reportedly witnessed a cancellation of approximately 2,000 subscriptions in a 24-hour period following the announcement, with many subscribers expressing their discontent over the paper’s abandonment of this long-standing electoral tradition. Although some within the organisation have downplayed this as a “not statistically significant” fluctuation, it underscores the impact of the decision on the newspaper’s relationship with its audience.

As the next presidential election looms, the decision by The Washington Post to step back from endorsing candidates marks a significant shift in its editorial practice, one that continues to generate debate both within the newsrooms and among its readership.

Source: Noah Wire Services