The Washington Post has faced a backlash from readers after announcing that it would not endorse a presidential candidate this year. The newspaper has reportedly lost at least 250,000 subscribers in response to this decision, representing about 10 percent of its digital following. The Los Angeles Times also experienced cancellations over a similar non-endorsement, although not to the same extent as the Post. This reaction is considered unusual by some, with one journalism historian noting the significant impact of past boycotts on newspapers.
The owner of the Post, Jeff Bezos, defended the decision not to endorse a candidate, stating that it helps to avoid perceptions of bias in the newspaper. He also suggested that endorsements have little influence on how readers vote. However, Bezos expressed regret about the timing of the announcement, which occurred close to Election Day and amid heightened political tensions. The paper had reportedly prepared an endorsement of Democrat Kamala Harris, which will now not be published.
Despite the subscriber loss, the Post’s executive editor mentioned positive new subscriptions in a staff meeting without providing specific numbers. Some angry readers who have already paid for access will retain their subscriptions until they expire, suggesting a potential return of subscribers after the election season has passed. Media business analysts point out that the Post had previously seen growth in subscribers during the Trump presidency, and a similar trend may occur if he is re-elected.
The shift in subscriber numbers is seen as a setback for the Post, which had reportedly been experiencing positive growth until the decision not to endorse a candidate was announced. This development has been described as “very bad” for the newspaper, especially after losing readers during the Biden administration. The Post’s media critic emphasized that while a forgotten endorsement of Harris may not have garnered much attention, the decision not to publish it has sparked significant reaction from readers. It remains to be seen how the newspaper will navigate this situation and potentially regain lost subscribers in the future.
