For starters, I need to apologize. Earlier this year I wrote an article – admittedly, not a particularly good one – disparaging publications that endorse political candidates. I would now like to recant that statement entirely.
It’s clear this election is unlike any the country has witnessed before, for never has there been such animosity toward the two major candidates. The growing sentiment of feeling forced to choose between “the lesser of two evils” is leading moderate, undecided voters to throw up their hands in exasperation, and is particularly disheartening toward millennials for whom 2016 features their first presidential vote.
With less than a month to go until Election Day, this isn’t so much as a call to action for media to produce presidential endorsements, but a call for readers to review them. Think about the newspapers you regularly read. Whether because they’re nationally comprehensive like The New York Times or your local paper, you likely respect the work they do and the values they exemplify. You trust their judgment when it comes to the news; perhaps it’s not too ridiculous to suggest you trust their judgment this election (whether you’ve already decided or not, it's at least worth taking into consideration).
Newspaper endorsements carry much more weight than the average celebrity endorsement. This isn’t to say famous people haven’t made incredible contributions to inspire citizens to vote – just check out Joss Whedon’s Save the Day video or Lin Manuel Miranda’s series of “Vote” videos with the Hamilton cast. These may be more geared toward simply telling viewers to get out and vote on Election Day, but digging a little deeper clearly shows these actors are backing Hillary.
All of this to say, since it’s the media’s job to gather every ounce of information about upcoming elections and the top contenders and filter it into digestible content for their readers, publications are likely to have a firmer grasp on both sides of the story (or all sides, if they endorse third party), and relay that to their audience rather than a simple #ImWithHer statement. (Notably, not a single editorial has endorsed Trump.)
Journalists are public servants and they owe it to their readers to yes, present news in an unbiased fashion, but it is the passion in opinion pieces that spark debate and conversations, which in turn spark change and education. Conversations with like-minded individuals – or worse, indifferent individuals – only leave everyone with blinders on. If it is a reporter’s duty to take off this nation’s blinders, they have a responsibility to unabashedly, unhesitantly guide them in the right direction.
Here’s an updated list of some of the top papers and their endorsed candidate. And just for fun, here’s a complied list of celebrity endorsements.
