Monroe alderman Jan Lefevre responded to my blog What do you want to know? with a question that is asked often about newspapers:
Why does the newspaper take a stand and endorse certain candidates? Isnt the newspaper supposed to remain neutral and only report the facts?
Im glad you asked, Jan. Your question is one that comes up often, particularly during an election season.
Most newspapers, including The Monroe Times, endorse candidates in local, state and presidential races. Some newspapers, like the Times, decline to make endorsements in party primaries.
A couple of years ago, the Times made a commitment to using its editorial pages to lead and facilitate discussion and debate on community issues. Weve done so through writing daily local editorials (we havent missed one on a Monday through Friday since we made the commitment in November 2006), encouraging more local columnists, guest opinions and letters to the editor.
That commitment extends to campaigns for elected offices, as well. A newspapers coverage of, and access to, government issues and officials give it an opportunity Id call it an obligation to provide readers a unique perspective on candidates ability and suitability for public office. The Times fulfills that obligation by making endorsements in key local races after talking to the candidates, researching their positions and assessing their leadership qualities.
That task is done by our three-member editorial board, which includes me, General Manager Carl Hearing and News Editor Jim Winter. No reporters participate in editorial board decisions.
An endorsement is a recommendation to readers, based on the information and insights we gather. Readers are free to agree, disagree or disregard our opinion, just as they are with our daily Times editorials.
Hopefully, a newspaper endorsement helps readers evaluate the candidates, and is but one piece of information they use to decide whom to vote for.
An endorsement is not a compact with a politician, nor does a non-endorsement impact how the newspaper will cover a candidate if he or she wins the election.
Is it a newspapers job to remain neutral and only report the facts? It is important for reporters to be neutral while writing news stories. But even news stories rarely contain only facts. Hopefully, they also report some of the opinions of those involved in or impacted by the issue being written about.
The newspaper also has a right again, Id call it an obligation to publish its opinions. Its important that opinion pieces are clearly marked, so as not to blur the line between opinion and news story for the reader. Usually, Times opinions will be limited to the Views page.
Do newspaper endorsements matter? I think they do, particularly in local races when the newspaper may be the only source of information. Its a responsibility we take seriously. In state and national races, a newspapers endorsement probably has limited impact but remains important.
A joke at every newspaper Ive worked at is that an editorial board endorsement is a kiss of death for a candidate. Im not sure if thats true, but local newspapers do seem to have a knack for picking losers.
So, to any candidate we endorse in the upcoming election season, I offer in advance my congratulations and condolences.
I hope Ive answered your question, Jan.
Why does the newspaper take a stand and endorse certain candidates? Isnt the newspaper supposed to remain neutral and only report the facts?
Im glad you asked, Jan. Your question is one that comes up often, particularly during an election season.
Most newspapers, including The Monroe Times, endorse candidates in local, state and presidential races. Some newspapers, like the Times, decline to make endorsements in party primaries.
A couple of years ago, the Times made a commitment to using its editorial pages to lead and facilitate discussion and debate on community issues. Weve done so through writing daily local editorials (we havent missed one on a Monday through Friday since we made the commitment in November 2006), encouraging more local columnists, guest opinions and letters to the editor.
That commitment extends to campaigns for elected offices, as well. A newspapers coverage of, and access to, government issues and officials give it an opportunity Id call it an obligation to provide readers a unique perspective on candidates ability and suitability for public office. The Times fulfills that obligation by making endorsements in key local races after talking to the candidates, researching their positions and assessing their leadership qualities.
That task is done by our three-member editorial board, which includes me, General Manager Carl Hearing and News Editor Jim Winter. No reporters participate in editorial board decisions.
An endorsement is a recommendation to readers, based on the information and insights we gather. Readers are free to agree, disagree or disregard our opinion, just as they are with our daily Times editorials.
Hopefully, a newspaper endorsement helps readers evaluate the candidates, and is but one piece of information they use to decide whom to vote for.
An endorsement is not a compact with a politician, nor does a non-endorsement impact how the newspaper will cover a candidate if he or she wins the election.
Is it a newspapers job to remain neutral and only report the facts? It is important for reporters to be neutral while writing news stories. But even news stories rarely contain only facts. Hopefully, they also report some of the opinions of those involved in or impacted by the issue being written about.
The newspaper also has a right again, Id call it an obligation to publish its opinions. Its important that opinion pieces are clearly marked, so as not to blur the line between opinion and news story for the reader. Usually, Times opinions will be limited to the Views page.
Do newspaper endorsements matter? I think they do, particularly in local races when the newspaper may be the only source of information. Its a responsibility we take seriously. In state and national races, a newspapers endorsement probably has limited impact but remains important.
A joke at every newspaper Ive worked at is that an editorial board endorsement is a kiss of death for a candidate. Im not sure if thats true, but local newspapers do seem to have a knack for picking losers.
So, to any candidate we endorse in the upcoming election season, I offer in advance my congratulations and condolences.
I hope Ive answered your question, Jan.
