The Washington Post will not endorse a presidential candidate in this presidential election. The paper is returning to its roots of not endorsing any presidential candidates.
The Washington Post is facing a significant backlash for not supporting any presidential candidate in the upcoming 2024 election. The decision was articulated by the publisher and chief executive officer (William Lewish) of The Washington Post.
The Washington Post is returning to its old policy of not following any democratic candidate started in the 1970s, and stopped in 1980. The American people, the paper’s readers, and even The Washington Post’s staff are criticizing this move taken by the paper.
The Washington Post: Why return to roots?
. In 1972, President Richard M. Nixon won the presidential election. Later he asked the press, “What is a newspaper’s proper role in the US Presidential Election? The newspaper replied that it was an independent newspaper. It was not in its tradition to support any presidential candidate.
Since then, the paper didn’t support any Presidential Candidates till 1980. It didn’t break its tradition till 2020 by endorsing presidential candidates of its choice. The paper has decided not to support Presidential candidates from 2024 onwards.
According to the newspaper, the paper was returning to its roots. It will not endorse any Presidential Candidate from 2024 following its 1972-old trend.
Editorial Independence
The company’s new CEO, Will Lewis, decided to refrain from endorsements to return to its roots of providing nonpartisan news. The approach despite being honorable or ethical raised questions about editorial boards in this highly polarised politicized scenario.
The newspaper remarked that its job within the newsroom is to not show support for any candidate and to deliver nonpartisan news for all Americans.
Views from The Washington Post opinion team might help its readers make up their minds to prefer a particular Presidential Candidate. Most of all, our job as the newspaper of the capital city of the most important country in the world is to be independent.
Readers Reaction
The newspaper’s readers and American citizens are being disrespectful and criticizing The Washington Post’s sudden neutral political stand. American people say that the newspaper’s decision is not a journalistic one, and they are not doing their job. Their job is to show who are the candidates, and what candidates are talking about & promising to American citizens. Many people are showing aggression in their protests, saying the newspaper team is behaving like cowards.
A columnist in The Washington Post, Robert Kagan resigned in protest. Other staff too expressed their dissatisfaction with this nonpartisan view of the paper. Former executive editor, Marty Baron said this was a cowardly action.
These Decisions have elicited strong reactions from readers and staff members. Many readers expressed their disappointment and frustration with The Washington Post.
Parallel Context
Other newspapers such as the Los Angeles Times also follow the nonpartisan views in covering the 2024 Presidential Election. Thus it makes sense that The Washington Post is showing the same concern, not endorsing any presidential candidates. Both of these newspapers have a long time history, and they both didn’t endorse any candidate in the presidential election.
How this will turn out only time will tell.
What’s Next for America?
The Washington Post’s decision to not endorse any presidential candidates has created a crack with its staff and readers. The move has raised questions about the publication’s role and responsibilities at a critical juncture in US Elections.
There is not much time left in the Presidential voting as it will conclude in the first week of November. A neutral newspaper just might report news and facts that are not polarised, and American citizens select the best Presidential candidate in the process.
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