The New York Times announced that it will no longer endorse political candidates in New York state and local races. The decision was made by the newspaper’s editorial board, which is composed of opinion journalists and operates separately from the newsroom and the company. While the Times will continue to report on New York electoral races, the editorial board will no longer provide endorsements for Senate, congressional, and Assembly races in the state. This change will take immediate effect, but the board can still make endorsements in presidential races and races outside of New York.
The decision to stop endorsing candidates in New York elections was not accompanied by a specific reason from the editorial board. However, Kathleen Kingsbury, who oversees the editorial board, emphasized that The Times remains committed to its mission of providing a consistent, independent view based on institutional values. The board’s role as the institutional voice of The Times is to help the global audience understand the world by offering perspectives on various issues and candidates. This decision aligns The Times with other major US newspaper publishers like McClatchy and Alden Global Capital, who have also recently stopped making candidate endorsements.
Alden Global Capital, which owns newspapers such as the Chicago Tribune and the New York Daily News, announced a more sweeping approach to endorsements in 2022. Their editorial boards will no longer make endorsements at the presidential, gubernatorial, and senate levels. The Wall Street Journal’s editorial board, which has a conservative bent, has not endorsed candidates since 1928. This trend reflects a shift among major newspapers away from making political endorsements, with a focus on providing unbiased reporting and analysis instead.
The decision to end political endorsements in New York elections does not change The Times’ commitment to journalism or reporting on important issues. The newspaper will continue to cover New York electoral races in the newsroom and offer perspectives on candidates and issues through its Opinion team. While this specific decision impacts New York races, The Times can still provide endorsements in presidential races and other races outside of the state. This move is in line with the evolving landscape of political journalism and the shifting priorities of major newspaper publishers in the United States.
The Times’ decision to stop endorsing political candidates in New York is part of a broader trend among major US newspapers to reevaluate their endorsement practices. By focusing on providing unbiased reporting and analysis, newspapers like The Times, McClatchy, and Alden Global Capital are adapting to meet the changing expectations of readers and the evolving media landscape. As newspapers strive to maintain their credibility and independence, decisions to end political endorsements reflect a commitment to journalistic integrity and a dedication to serving the public interest.
