February 18, 2008 11:56 AM
Reaction to column on endorsements
In my most recent column, I asked readers for their thoughts about whether editorial endorsements go too far in confusing readers about newspapers' political independence. Here are some of the e-mails I received.
__________
Sent: Saturday, February 16, 2008 11:45 AM
To: RMN Editor
Subject: John Temple column 2/16 - "Endorsements"
Mr. Temple,
Thanks for bringing up the issue.
I am a longtime Post subscriber. I have generally appreciated well thought out political endorsements just prior to an election.
Recently, the Post endorsed candidates for the primaries. For the primaries? I don't remember them doing this before, maybe I'm incorrect. I did not think it appropriate to endorse candidates for the primaries. Let the parties do their work, wait to see who the parties nominate, and then make an endorsement before the general election.
The Post endorsed a candidate for the primaries who is generally accepted to be the most polarizing candidate in recent memory. I would respect it if the Post endorsed that candidate in the general election, if that candidate were her party's nominee.
However, since this was an endorsement for the primaries, which I don't favor anyway, the endorsement of the polarizing candidate has polarized me from the Post and, together with the shrinking size of the paper and the increasing multitude of alternative news sources, has led me to decide not to renew when my annual subscription expires on March 3.
In a time of shrinking readership, one wonders about the business decision to endorse in the primaries the most polarizing candidate in recent memory.
______________________________
Sent: Saturday, February 16, 2008 1:14 PM
To: RMN Editor
Subject: Political Independence at the Rocky Mountain News
John Temple,
I read your article in today's RMN about how to achieve political independence.
In my opinion, the Rocky Mountain News blatantly slants it's news as well as it's editorial page in favor of Democrat ideas, candidates, and politicians.
As evidence, I present scans from the paper--one from 2007, and one from 2006.
Note that these are both from the "news" section of the paper--not the editorial section.
The photos illustrating these articles about a political campaign were chosen to show the Democrat candidate favorably, and the Republican candidate unfavorably.
The Rocky Mountain News will continue to be a biased source of information until the employees who are producing this kind of article are routinely and consistently disciplined. Only then will this editorializing of the news be stopped.
Here's my response:
Thank you for taking the time to write and share your concerns. I’m sorry you feel this way. I think two examples is far too anecdotal a way of determining whether a newspaper slants its content. You don’t know why the photos were chosen. You are correct that in both cases you’ve sent me the Republican candidate isn’t presented in as good a light as the Democratic candidate. That doesn’t reveal intent. We publish literally thousands of mug shots of politicians every year. I can tell you that our policy is clear: We do not want to make people look bad in the pictures we run of them. As for the bias of an editorial page, I don’t know how you can say it’s biased in favor of Democratic ideas, candidates or politicians. I don’t believe you’d be able to do an analysis that would show that.
Best,
John Temple
________________________________________
Sent: Saturday, February 16, 2008 4:25 PM
To: RMN Editor
Subject: "Endorsements raise questions
Mr. Temple,
Thank you for the “Endorsements raise questions� article today responding to my earlier email. If I were confident of a single, simple solution for how publishers should handle this issue, I would have given you that instead of posing the question to you. I appreciate your serious, thoughtful response.
My sensitivity to this news/opinion divide is undoubtedly influenced by 40 years of reading The Gazette here in Colorado Springs. Under certain regimes of publisher and editor, the Freedom Newspaper libertarian philosophy of The Gazette has obviously influenced its news side. At other times, I think they have done better. The Gazette pretends to avoid some of the conflict between news and opinion by a policy of not endorsing candidates. But since they write editorials—including just before elections—praising the strengths of some candidates and condemning the shortcomings of others, it is a distinction without a difference, and a bit of a sham. Not doing endorsements does not solve the dilemma.
I was aware of the history of early newspapers in this nation (largely written to express opinions) as described in your quotes from Mr. Hosokawa. Certainly, we newspaper readers now expect both news and opinion (and from a business standpoint, you would not be able to provide only one or the other).
You wrote, “The problem is, though, that what we as journalists may see as a sharp line can look pretty blurry to readers like Fornander.� I would not describe it quite that way. I understand the sharp line in most aspects of the paper. It is just at the top—especially as publisher—where the roles overlap. My question was not intended to challenge or confront whether you were making proper decisions, but more to find out your thinking on that dual role with news and opinion. Thank you for addressing that.
The fact you write a weekly column about how decisions are made at the Rocky is wonderful. I see that you get beat up a bit—including today—about that being self-serving rationalization. That goes with the territory. As for me, I appreciate the fact you will discuss the complexities of your job, how decisions are made, and, as I recall over the years, acknowledgement when the paper falls short.
I am sure that in the future there will be times I agree and times I disagree with the lines you draw. But I certainly appreciate that you are willing to engage in these issues on a weekly basis in your column, and that you are willing to give serious and thoughtful—and non-defensive— responses to your readers. The search for the proper lines is always going to be an unfinished journey. Thanks for sharing your thoughts along the way.
Sincerely,
Gary Fornander
________________________________
Sent: Saturday, February 16, 2008 5:03 PM
To: RMN Editor
Subject: I think!
Dear John,
Don't apologize for doing your civic duty. Hearst and the days of "press as king maker" are over. I trust that the FCC has protected the public from that. In cities that have competitive print media, there exists competition from the right and left. In cities with only one newspaper, a balanced approach to controversial issues is required. A free and objective press keeps voters informed as to the voting record of their representatives. It provides insight into the pros and cons of various measures affecting our well being. I trust the local press to make recommendations regarding elections because it has the time and resources to investigate these choices. I don't. I let you do my research for me. I still make up my own mind regarding whom to vote for. Integrity and credibility; you watch the candidates. I'm watching you.
___________________________________
Sent: Sunday, February 17, 2008 5:43 PM
To: RMN Editor
Subject: Endorsements
RE: John Temple's 2/16/08 column on newspaper endorsements
Dear Mr. Temple:
You asked your readers what we think.
Here are several thoughts.
We would be better off if newspapers reverted to the 18th century style Mr. Hosakawa mentioned - i.e. unalloyed opinion. There is no such thing as objectivity, and the honest thing would be for newspapers to admit their bias right up front. I suppose it would be nice if objective reporting existed, but reporters can't seem to help sneaking in their views whenever the topic has even the slightest amount of controversy. Only straightforward murder and other run-of-the-mill crime seems to lend itself to objective reporting.
With regard to endorsements in particular: even in this clearly subjective terrain, newspapers have the deplorable habit of pretending to be objective. The mechanism here is for a newspaper with a liberal bent to pick a Democrat whenever the race is tight or sure to go to the Democrat and to pick a Republican whenever the Republican is sure to win. Newspapers with a conservative bent do the reverse. Because of the view I expressed in the first bullet, I am not averse to endorsements, but at least have the courage of your convictions. [And if a newspaper is honestly able to choose both Republicans and Democrats, then its opinion isn't worth a bucket of warm spit, to quote Mr. Garner out of context.]
Finally, as justification for newspapers expressing their opinions, you say, "A newspaper has a responsibility to show leadership in its community." Why is that exactly? Are the hoi polloi so desperately in need of "leadership?" It's OK for you to give us your opinion without a condescending rationale.
My response:
Thanks for your thoughtful letter. I posted it on my blog without your name or email address. You raise good issues. I think it’s clear that I don’t think it would be good if newspapers reverted to the 18th century style. That’s where blogs and the Internet come in. I think there’s great value in what I would call neutral, dispassionate reporting. I think you’re right that some newspapers do pad their endorsements in different ways to make themselves look fairer. But sometimes such decisions could have more to do with incumbency than with party. I think we need to show leadership because we’re in a position to research facts and publish information in a way that can influence our community or that can be irrelevant. I take your point, but I think that just by selecting what we cover we are in effect leading the community.
Best,
John Temple
_______________________________________
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