In the aftermath of The Washington Post’s surprising decision to refrain from making an endorsement in the presidential race, we reached out to faculty members — past and present — of the Jandoli School of Communication at St. Bonaventure University and asked if they believe endorsements by newspapers and other media outlets provide value. Their responses, which varied widely, are below.

Aaron Chimbel

In an age of deep distrust of media and journalism, newspaper endorsements seem like a vestige of a different era. Many readers don’t fully understand the separation of the news and opinion sections of newspapers and when they hear that a newspaper endorsed a candidate, readers often assume it was the news staff that made that decision, which can feed preconceived notions about bias. Of course, the timing and context of deciding when a news organization changes its policy on endorsements also matters a great deal and can equally harm its creditability. 

Lee Coppola

Newspaper editorial pages guide readers.  Some, maybe many readers, rely on them to form an opinion on matters regarding themselves, their community, their country or the world. I think they’re worthwhile, adding perspective to issues, some of them controversial. Endorsement of candidates is a hallmark of a newspaper’s editorial page. I think they’re valuable, even if at times readers don’t agree with them. 

Pauline Hoffmann

I am more interested when newspapers endorse local elections than national elections. I include U.S. Senate and U.S. Congressional races in the “local” category. Those are elections in which we may not have as much information on the candidates. It’s helpful to see an endorsement with an explanation as to why. I also do like when the newspapers give candidates an opportunity to answer a series of questions that are the same for each candidate. There is so much out there about national candidates that I don’t need my paper to endorse anyone. Honestly, I can tell just by the paper I’m reading who will be endorsed.

David Kassnoff

On one hand, news outlets’ endorsements of candidates is a remnant from a time when consumers had fewer media choices. Print ruled. Today, we have many quick-take digital news sources, so endorsements — mostly from newspapers — provide thoughtful analysis from editorial staff who by nature take a long, considered view.

Mike Jones-Kelley

In past years, newspaper endorsements were useful to me in down-ballot races on which I was not as informed as I always was about races for president and governor, senator or congressperson. I followed (and continue to follow) those races closely.

That having been said, I found a newspaper’s endorsement in a major race to be important if not particularly influential In my decisions. They were important because they were statements written by people who were very well informed and, in most cases, with years of experience in the public dialog. Even though opinions, I trusted the people who wrote them to be faithful to the principles of good, even idealistic, journalism. I still do.

I cannot say the same thing for most broadcast endorsements. While the three major networks seem to try to maintain their journalistic integrity, cable and streaming services are more inclined to sacrifice objectivity to opinion, fact to feeling.  

Chris Mackowski

I don’t know that newspaper endorsements make much difference in politics because readers can usually guess (or at least assume) how a paper would lean. So, I’m not troubled by the Post‘s decision to not endorse, per se. But the optics of the timing are terrible. If the Post wanted to return to an earlier tradition of not endorsing candidates, the time to announce that would have been at the start of the primary season, pre-New Hampshire, not on the eve of a razor-thin election. The decision to break with the paper’s contemporary tradition undercuts the credibility of the newsroom’s own reporting. If the newspaper can’t heed its own reporting, then why should I?

Amy Moritz

There is historical context as to why newspapers endorse candidates, which is important. I feel to understand the present, we need to look at how we got here. Context matters. That being said, I feel that as journalism has evolved, so too must its practices. Choosing not to endorse candidates but rather focusing on reporting, context and analysis are  paramount to a newspaper’s role. And in our current media, social, and political climate, endorsements can further incite claims of bias in reporting.

And that being said, this is a horrible time in history to suddenly decide to not endorse a presidential candidate. The media becomes the story instead of covering the story, which doesn’t serve the public interest.

Scott Sackett

The electorate is largely uninformed of the structure and workings of government. Many voters are ignorant of the basic facts underlying the issues at stake. And policies are complex and involve values that are deeply contested. But ultimately, most voters use shortcuts. The political party is a shortcut: “Republicans share my conservative beliefs.” Endorsements are another: “He’s the world’s richest man—he knows what he’s talking about.”

Journalism is facing an existential crisis, but the imperative for newspaper editorial boards to endorse candidates seems greater in the face of widespread misinformation and disinformation and an increase in anti-democratic demagoguery.

Pat Vecchio

Newspaper endorsements are like 8-track tapes, landline telephones and fax machines. Ever since Leslie Moonves said Trump’s candidacy “may not be good for America, but it’s damn good for CBS,” it’s been impossible to believe Big League (corporate) media is in it for anything but the money. Sadly, Moonves’s broad brush painted everybody in shades of rapacious green, even media outlets that are still (cliché alert!) fighting the good fight.

As for the small-town media turf I trod for 20-plus years: Decades of editorial staff gutting by corporate greed-heads have left newspapers and radio stations with so few reporters that it’s impossible to believe they have any kind of especially informed perspective on political races.

Besides, if I don’t like an opinion (endorsement), I’ll simply look for one I agree with.

Denny Wilkins

I have always believed a newspaper’s job is to defend its readers. That, of course, entails accurate, timely reporting on issues and events that affect readers. It also means explaining issues and events — and advising readers through editorials on what they might think about them or how to act on them.

In the early days of the Republic with few schools, newspaper served as the nation’s teachers. Teaching involves offering opinion on matters large and small. Newspapers nationwide, sadly, have slowly let lapse their necessary function of offering opinion. That should fill readers with sadness and dismay.

Categories: Jandoli Institute, Media, Politics