Gannett, America’s largest newspaper chain, announced it will not endorse any candidates in the 2024 presidential election. It joins other major publications in reversing this longtime journalistic tradition.
USA Today and more than 200 other Gannett-owned publications nationwide will refrain from making presidential endorsements. However, local editors retain the discretion to endorse candidates in state and local races, according to Lark-Marie Antón, USA Today’s spokesperson.
The decision was made more than a year ago by Kristin Roberts, Gannett’s chief content officer, who determined the company’s media outlets would not pursue endorsements at the national level.
“America’s future is decided locally – one race at a time,” Antón said, adding that the company’s role is to provide readers with “the facts that matter and the trusted information they need to make informed decisions.”
The move follows similar decisions by The Washington Post and Los Angeles Times to end their presidential endorsement traditions. The Washington Post’s choice has reportedly led to over 200,000 digital subscription cancellations.
Ken Paulson, a former USA Today editor, criticized Gannett’s decision, arguing it deprives readers of valuable insights from editorial boards on important issues. However, Gannett maintains the editorial division’s top ranks decided without corporate interference.
This marks a significant shift for USA Today, which broke from its traditional non-endorsement stance in 2016 by opposing Donald Trump and in 2020 by endorsing Joe Biden. The paper’s editorial board has stated that it revisits its endorsement policy every four years.
The trend of newspapers ending presidential endorsements extends beyond major national outlets. Newspaper chains, including Alden Global’s MediaNews Group and Tribune Publishing, have also eliminated presidential endorsements, affecting dozens of publications nationwide. Media executives defend these decisions as a way to maintain focus on fact-based reporting during a period of intense political polarization.
