Feb. 27, Rita Kirk, director of the Maguire Center for Ethics & Public Responsibility and professor in Corporate Communication & Public Affairs at SMU Dallas, for a piece lamenting the de-emphasis of candidate endorsements at a growing number of newspapers. Published at History News Network: https://historynewsnetwork.org/article/174423
There was a time when voters would take a copy of the ballot they clipped out of the newspaper with them to the polls when they voted. Recommendations of the newspaper editorial staff were often used as a guide to decision making, particularly in down-ballot races where the candidates were less known than the presidential candidates, senate and congressional seats at the top of the ballot. These editorial endorsements prove useful – and often pivotal – when candidates lack name recognition, have limited funds to disseminate a message, or when voter fatigue sets in during down-ballot choices.
Yet those days are fading for a number of reasons. Printed sample ballots are old school now that online versions allow voters to enter a zip code and produce a unique ballot specific to precinct and state elections. Early voting condenses the time available to interview all the candidates. Further, angry voters are ill disposed to trust media opinions. But another trend is more troubling: the declining practice of newspapers editorial endorsements of candidates. . .