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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsL.A. Times Editorial Board member who resigned gives a very strong message to voters.
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/10/27/opinion/los-angeles-times-endorsement-kamala-harris-soon-shiong/*snip*
I dont expect we will ever get an honest answer to what motivated the owners of these two papers to kill the Harris endorsements (the conflicting and disingenuous excuses later issued by Soon-Shiong and his daughter aside). I fear that it comes down to money. I have served on editorial boards for more than 20 years and, in my experience, when publishers intervene in endorsements it is usually for financial reasons. And both have substantial business interests that could suffer under a vengeful Trump administration.
Many newspapers have opted to stop making presidential endorsements, usually in fear of losing readers. Thats fine; theres a case to be made that endorsements and editorial boards are anachronisms. But making that change just days before the election isnt an honest move toward neutrality. It is a statement in itself.
If theres any bright side to this shameful moment, its that the owners of these two newspapers inadvertently illustrated the perils of a second Trump term in stronger terms than we could have done in any endorsement (or the five-part series we planned to complement the Harris endorsement, which was also spiked).
If two of the wealthiest men in the world are so cowed by a Trump presidency that they would muzzle their journalists and damage two storied news organizations rather than use their considerable resources to prevent it, every voter should rush in horror to the nearest polling center on Nov. 5.
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L.A. Times Editorial Board member who resigned gives a very strong message to voters. (Original Post)
Nevilledog
Oct 28
OP
What I am finding interesting about the WaPo situation is that they are publishing multiple anti-Trump/
LauraInLA
Oct 29
#5
Mme. Defarge
(8,574 posts)1. This!!!!!
If theres any bright side to this shameful moment, its that the owners of these two newspapers inadvertently illustrated the perils of a second Trump term in stronger terms than we could have done in any endorsement (or the five-part series we planned to complement the Harris endorsement, which was also spiked).
wackadoo wabbit
(1,219 posts)3. I certainly hope so ... n/t
usonian
(14,850 posts)2. Cowardice is a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Cowards would gladly trade the lives, health, wealth and safety from persecution of many for a fucking "tax cut for billionaires"
May they join their Lord Shitler in hell.
dobleremolque
(927 posts)4. When a newspaper doesn't publish something because
its billionaire owner says not to, it ceases to be a newspaper and becomes a propaganda outlet.
LauraInLA
(1,357 posts)5. What I am finding interesting about the WaPo situation is that they are publishing multiple anti-Trump/
pro-Harris endorsements by individual op-ed contributors. Even the WaPo humor columnist and YouTube channel have gotten into it. So the paper is endorsing without endorsing.
Hermit-The-Prog
(36,628 posts)6. Perhaps cowardice was not the motivator, but rather the chance to get closer to a pure oligarchy for themselves.
tanyev
(44,806 posts)7. Agree.
The polls are moving in Harriss favorwhy would they assume that Trump will win? Conciliatory moves after a Trump win would be cowardice. Doing so now is an attempt to help him win.