The PSA pointed out that both the Bangor Daily News and the Portland Press Herald back the Vote No on 1 people. They then quoted a lengthy statement from the BDN on how marriage equality in Maine is important and so on and so forth.
The fact that newspapers take a stand on any issue is one of my biggest pet peeves.
News organizations are supposed to be unbiased. It's their job. When newspapers release a statement saying they support a certain candidate or ballot issue, they're taking sides. They're making friends and enemies. But it's not their job to do so. How can people even begin to think that the BDN or Press Herald is unbiased and fair in their reporting if they are going to choose sides in an argument? How can readers have faith that the news isn't slanted?
If you are working towards a reputation of fair and balanced news reporting, choosing sides or backing candidates is the wrong way to do it. Newspapers should mimic Switzerland. Who hates Switzerland? No one starts a war with them because they never choose a side! That's the way a newspaper should be run. They should report the news as it happens and let their readers decide for themselves.
NOTE: I found this snippit on Al Diamon's blog for Down East:
On Oct. 18, the papers carried an explanation on their editorial pages of the process used to make political endorsements.It seems the people running these papers WANT to represent the entire newspaper.....
According to the item, decisions on ballot issues and candidates will be made by a majority vote of a board composed of editor/publisher Richard Connor and editorial writers at the three papers, as well as the company’s chief financial officer, human resources director and circulation director.
By adding members from outside the traditional circle of editorial employees, Connor said the endorsement process would “represent the entire newspaper” and add “diversity.”
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3 comments:
It was the editorial board of each newspaper that took a stand, and they did so on the editorial page. Historically, newspapers' editorial boards have always weighed in on candidates and elections, so that's what they're doing now. Ideally, editorial and opinion writers should have no sway on news coverage.
Still. I don't think it's a good idea. No one thinks "oh, the editorial board of this paper thinks we should vote for so-and-so."
Probably not anymore, although a lot of older people still look to the editorial page for guidance. It's definitely a practice on its way out. But if editorial boards are paid to dish up opinions, then politics is definitely something they should weigh in on.
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