Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon and owner of The Washington Post, defended the newspaper’s decision to stop endorsing presidential candidates. Bezos argued that endorsements do not influence elections and can create perceptions of bias. He stated that ending endorsements was a principled decision to maintain credibility and independence. Bezos acknowledged that the move could have been handled better and denied any connections between the decision and political figures like Kamala Harris or Donald Trump. The decision not to endorse a candidate sparked backlash, with the newspaper losing subscribers and editorial board members resigning in protest. Bezos emphasized the importance of The Washington Post staying competitive and relevant in the current media landscape. Despite criticism, Bezos affirmed his commitment to maintaining the newspaper’s independence and credibility as a trusted voice in journalism. The members of the editorial board who resigned believed it was crucial for the newspaper to formally back Harris over Trump, who they saw as a threat to democracy and press freedom. The Post’s decision not to endorse a candidate follows a similar choice by the Los Angeles Times. The newspaper’s owner was reported to have blocked the editorial board from endorsing either candidate. Overall, the decision to stop endorsing presidential candidates was made to uphold the principles of independence and credibility at The Washington Post.
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