Fact Checking

(Media News) Washington Post Loses 200,000 Subscribers as Bezos Defends Decision to Halt Endorsements; Gannett Joins in 2024 Shift

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In a notable shift for the 2024 election, The Washington Post and Gannett’s USA Today Network have opted out of endorsing presidential candidates, claiming to reinforce neutrality and respond to public trust concerns. The Washington Post’s decision, reportedly directed by owner Jeff Bezos after an editorial favoring Vice President Kamala Harris had been drafted, led to over 200,000 digital subscription cancellations and spurred several resignations, including senior editor Robert Kagan and two editorial board members.

Bezos defended his stance in an op-ed, arguing that endorsements risk perceptions of bias and emphasizing that “neither campaign nor candidate” influenced the choice. Gannett’s USA Today Network, encompassing over 200 local papers, similarly announced it would avoid presidential endorsements, focusing instead on local and state-level issues.

Critics of the endorsement halt argue that these decisions may reduce the role of major publications in guiding public understanding during critical elections. Disappointed by the decision, some Washington Post subscribers have pointed to the paper’s “Democracy Dies in Darkness” motto as a call for stronger editorial positions, especially in polarized times. Additionally, analysts have questioned whether Bezos’s diverse business interests might complicate the perception of neutrality. At the same time, some argue that Gannett’s move could diminish the national impact of its outlets, limiting their voices on broader issues affecting American voters.