FROM THE EDITOR: Why do newspapers endorse candidates? Because they should
Recently the primaries were held on March 2nd here in the state of Texas. Leading up to the primaries. Several newspapers and other media outlets announced who had their support. Up until this point in time I never thought much of the practice but after taking American Government now for several weeks I began to question the practice.
On October 25, 2009 an editor named Bob Unger wrote an editorial piece for the Standards-Times newspaper based on the east cost titled “Why Do Newspapers Endorse Candidates? Because They Should.” Bob Unger has been the editor in cheif at the Standards Times now for five years. Unfortunately I have not been able to find any other qualifications on the individual but know that for an individual to achieve that position he must be a well respected experienced individual.
In the article “Why Do Newspapers Endorse Candidates? Because They Should” Bob Unger makes the argument on why his newspaper makes a choice to endorse a candidate that is running for an elected position. He also continues on to point out not just why they chose a candidate but the criteria and how they make their selection. This article is written so that any everyday reader can pick up the article and understand the newspapers position and the choices that they make. The article helped me to better understand this practice but even with the information I still have to question the practice and how it is carried out.
Most individuals give a level of trust to the media and what information is being disseminated. Unfortunately, newspapers are written by men which have a proven track record through history of being incorrect or corrupt time and time again. There is a history of Bob Unger and his newspaper being incorrect in their stories or information distributed to the public such as, for example, an episode dealing with a “Little Red Book Hoax.”If Bob Unger and his media have a track record of being incorrect then how do you know they are correct in the candidate they endorse? Bob wrote that they interview each candidate for an hour as part of the selection process. What questions do they ask? Who chooses these questions? What were their responses? Bob Unger fails to make any mention of this in the article. He states that it is up to himself and one other individual to make the choice. That places a tremendous power in two individuals hand, more power then their should be. What if these individuals chose a candidate for other then what they feel is best for their readers? With their position, there is a large possibility or temptation for corruption to rear its ugly head into the process.
The main issue I have with the process is it defeats the democratic process. It is up to the voters to decide if the candidate best represents their interests. The public is very persuasive and easily influenced by outside sources. How many voters would of voted for a candidate other then what the newspaper endorsed or how many voters that were undecided made up their minds for the endorsed candidate drawing votes from what may of been the opposition? Even up to election day, depending upon surveys and studies, there may be between 5%-10% or more voters undecided. The newspaper just influenced the outcome of the election.
I understand the medias freedom of speech and the right to express their opinion but I believe that newspapers and other media outlets should hold themselves to a higher standard and only report just factual information and leave it up to the voters to decide who, in their own view best represents their interests. Voters gain confidence in their choice and decision. If an external factor makes their decision they may end up unhappy with their voting choice and gain cynicism about their governmental system and withdrawal from the democratic process which undermines and destroys the foundation of what allows our nation to function.
