Political Editorials

IN ADDITION TO campaign coverage during an election, news media in the United States also publish editorials regarding the campaign and candidates. Many of these editorials comment on a particular campaign event or single issue, or perhaps just one candidate. One of the most prominent political editorials a newspaper may publish in an election period is the political endorsement, in which they offer their recommendation on which candidate, or which side of a ballot issue or amendment should be supported. The process of political endorsement is taken quite seriously by a news organization, and while some newspapers regularly make and publish endorsements, other newspapers do not, either because of non-endorsement policies, or their lack of support for any single candidate. While most voters are not persuaded by a single endorsement, such a recommendation by a trusted source in local or state elections may be influential.

Political endorsements by newspapers have been a tradition in American politics since the early 1800s. Today's process of developing a news media political endorsement is a rigorous one. In state level or local elections, members of the editorial board of a newspaper meet with and interview each major party candidate for the elected seat, and, occasionally, third-party candidates as well. The board then discusses their perceptions and recommendations for endorsement, and often confers with the newspaper publisher as well in its decision. One or two members of the editorial board will draft the endorsement and then revise it based on input from other members.

In presidential elections, the news media in states involved in early primaries, such as New Hampshire, privately interview each of the candidates for the party nomination for president. News media in states with primaries later in the spring election cycle often do not [Page 515]get to meet privately with each of the candidates, but may still meet to review candidate information and reach an endorsement decision.

While this pattern is typical for most news organizations, there are different approaches taken by some newspapers. In newspaper chains such as Scripps Howard, the editors of the individual papers and the company's executives may meet with presidential candidates together; the more than 20 newspapers in that chain then publish the same endorsement. There are also occasions when an editorial board publishes an “un-endorsement” editorial if it concludes that none of the candidates running are suitable for the position.

Political endorsements for candidates are usually published a few days prior to Election Day. The greatest amount of information and issues can be considered for an endorsement at such a late stage of the race, and voter interest is also at its peak just prior to Election Day. Endorsements typically recommend to readers who to vote for and reasons why, based on candidate issues as well as character. Once published, the endorsed candidate will often incorporate that endorsement into his or her campaign message in campaign speeches or political advertising.

Many newspapers no longer publish political endorsements. Compared to traditional editorials, they are very time-consuming for editorial boards. Some newspapers offer local endorsements, or ballot issue endorsements rather than candidate endorsements. Even those that do not officially endorse a candidate continue to publish editorials discussing the campaign issues. Newspapers in some U.S. cities have gone so far as to have non-endorsement policies. Such papers may publish editorials discussing the issues in the campaign, but do not endorse candidates for any race.

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