Newspapers endorsing presidential and down ballot candidates has been a long-standing practice in the U.S. However, the owners of The Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times have decided not to endorse a presidential candidate in the 2024 election.
Although the impact of editorial endorsements on the outcome of presidential elections is debatable, the unilateral decision by owners of the newspapers to stop the editorial boards from publishing presidential endorsements does not bode well for the freedom of press in the U.S. It appears that both owners had a conflict of interest between safeguarding their non-news media business interests and the freedom of their editors to endorse a presidential candidate. Apparently editorial boards of both newspapers were ready to endorse Kamala Harris.
Knowing Donald Trump has threatened anyone who endorses Kamala Harris might pay a price, owners chose to safeguard their money interests and let the, “Democracy die in darkness.”
Neither Mr. Soon-Shiong, The LA Times owner, nor Mr. Bezos, Owner of The Washington Post, bothered to give a reason for not endorsing Kamala Harris. Instead of endorsing or not endorsing a candidate, an editorial comparing the pros and cons of each candidate would have better informed the voters to make up their own decision. Such an approach was used by The Washington Post in the 1960, 1964 and 1968 elections. However, in 2024 neither owners of The Washington Post nor the LA Times saw it fit to shed some light on the advantages or risks associated with choosing one candidate over the other candidate.
This decision by owners of two major newspapers to prevent their editorial boards from endorsing Kamala Harris is the writing on the wall for what is to come if Donald Trump is elected as the U.S. president on Nov. 5. There will be no need for the Trump White House to issue executive orders to censor news or social media, owners of the news/social media will pay attention to subtle and not so subtle hints of what pleases or displeases the president and will self-censor to safeguard their business and personal interests.
How fragile the American democracy is and the freedom of press within it has never been so obvious since the independence from the British monarchy in 1776. Let us hope the true believers in democracy will cast their ballots on or before Nov. 5 to prevent the US from sliding into an authoritarian rule that seems to be taking hold in so many countries around the world.
Huzoor Akbar, Athens, Ohio
