Another article I did for the school newspaper. This one is about John Temple, Editor and Chief of the Rocky Mountain News (denver newspaper) and his decision to NOT endorse political candidates anymore. Endorsing political candidates is something that has been going on for a long time and there are many people who agree with newspapers decisions and many who disagree.
It’s curious to me that there are so many people threatening to cancel their subscription to The Rocky Mountain News, among others, simply because the editor refuses to support either candidate. Honestly, I can’t blame Mr. Temple for refusing to endorse a candidate this time around. Consider the options. Not since 1972 have we had such painfully inadequate candidates running for president. At the same time, to make accusations that endorsement is a tradition, that newspapers have a ‘duty’ to their readership is ludicrous. John Temple being the Editor, Publisher, and President of the Rocky Mountain News has every right to remain politically neutral, regardless of potential loss of readership.
In Temple’s judgment, rather than popular opinion in mass media, a newspaper’s job should focus on giving fair and balanced news, allowing the reader to decide, instead of telling them who to vote for. Temple has said:
“I don’t think fair-minded readers resent opinion per se. In fact, it’s clear that they value opinion writing a great deal. What they do resent is evidence that their newspaper is in the tank for one political party or the other. And too many reader’s tend to confuse endorsements – particularly if a majority happens to be for one party – as evidence that a newspaper is partisan as opposed to principled”
But it is the tradition for a newspaper to endorse a candidate some say. This is true, since the beginning of newspapers in America there has been endorsing of candidates. Since 1791 when the Bill of Rights took effect and newspapers jumped all over the opportunity to garner monies from political candidates to report their ‘opinions’ of their particular candidate. Newspapers were formed mainly for this purpose they were not trying to hide their opinions or endorsements, in fact the majority of readers purchased certain newspapers simply because the papers views were somewhat in line with their own. There was also a much different environment to work a newspaper in. Today readers of print papers are declining dramatically and hometown newspapers rarely have the chance to interview major candidates anymore. Whereas in the past the newspaper was the only source to get the information needed to decide. The internet, TV, and more have changed the political scene forever, as the saying goes Abraham Lincoln and FDR would never have been elected if they were interviewed on television. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, simply a different thing. What needs to be done now is to change with the times, sticking with something just because its tradition is crazy. Just imagine if we stuck with human sacrifices just because it was tradition.
Some people may choose to cancel subscriptions, as many comments to John Temples article “Input not Endorsements” have shown may happen. Temple obviously believes the loss will be minimal and the gain will be optimal. After all as he has said the papers motto is “Give light and the people will find their own way.” He will have to find out how correct he is.
John Temple is not alone; many newspapers large and small are deciding to not endorse political candidates. Jay Rosen, chair of the Journalism department at New York University says that using “the endorsement as a tool of power is just a display of institutional chest-thumping that proclaims the civic authority of the newspaper”.
Denverites are intelligent enough to garner the facts and make their own decision. We really don’t need someone to tell us who they think is the best person for the job, just give us the facts and let us think for ourselves.
1 comment:
yeah dude, He shouldn't have to endorse anyone. F the tradition. His primary job, (other than attract and keep readers) is to present the facts as is. The people are left with the decision. The problem is that people are very sheep-minded. Only a few people are leaders who think for themselves, most rely on these few to influence their own 'decisions'
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