Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon and owner of The Washington Post, recently defended the newspaper’s decision to stop endorsing presidential candidates. Bezos argued that presidential endorsements have little impact on elections and can create perceptions of bias. He stated that ending endorsements is a principled decision to ensure independence and credibility.
The decision to stop endorsing presidential candidates was made by the publisher and CEO of The Post, Will Lewis, sparking backlash and causing the resignation of several editorial board members. The newspaper had planned to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris but Bezos denied claims that he influenced the decision. Bezos admitted that the change could have been handled better and denied any connections between the decision and political figures.
Despite criticisms, Bezos emphasized the importance of The Post as a credible and independent voice in today’s media landscape. He vowed to keep the newspaper relevant and competitive in the face of new challenges like social media and podcasts. Bezos highlighted the need for a trusted voice originating from the nation’s capital.
The resigning editorial board members believed that endorsing Harris over Donald Trump was crucial due to the perceived threat to American democracy and freedom of the press posed by the latter. The decision not to endorse either candidate comes after the Los Angeles Times also opted not to endorse either candidate. The debate over endorsements reflects the ongoing tensions within the media industry around neutrality and independence.
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