Newspaper non-endorsements at Washington Post, LA Times fit a trend, but their readers aren’t happy

AP Media Writer

Newspaper owners across the country have been ditching presidential endorsements, figuring they shouldn’t alienate readers with something most of them don’t care about. Yet in following that trend this past week, the Washington Post and Los Angeles Times found their readers cared very much. Thousands have canceled subscriptions, and journalists worry the fallout will lead to jobs lost. Faced with a continued backlash, billionaire owner Jeff Bezos at the Post took the unusual step of publicly defending the action, and suggesting endorsements contribute to a public view that journalists can’t be trusted to play it straight.