Over 200,000 subscribers flee 'Washington Post' after Bezos blocks Harris endorsement

[Napoleon]

There is nothing unethical about editors of a paper endorsing a candidate. It's been done for ages.

It is unethical for them to do so in their capacity as editors.

 

[Slartibartfast]

It’s a professional code not a law. Doctors have such a code too.

There is no code in the SPJ that discusses political neutrality.

SPJ Code of Ethics - Society of Professional Journalists

Members of the Society of Professional Journalists believe that public enlightenment is the forerunner of justice and the foundation of democracy. The duty of the journalist is to further those ends by seeking truth and providing a fair and comprehensive account of events and issues.

www.spj.org

 

[multivita-man]

Apparently, Bezos had WaPo run an article about how it's not going to endorse anyone shortly after Team Trump met with Blue Origin's people. And not long after the announcement, news of the meeting "leaked", undoubtedly by Team Trump.

The idea being to signal to other business execs that he cowed Bezos with who knows what threats and will go after them, too, if they don't sing his tune.

Obey in advance.

 

[Napoleon]

There is no code in the SPJ that discusses political neutrality.

SPJ Code of Ethics - Society of Professional Journalists

Members of the Society of Professional Journalists believe that public enlightenment is the forerunner of justice and the foundation of democracy. The duty of the journalist is to further those ends by seeking truth and providing a fair and comprehensive account of events and issues.

www.spj.org

It does discuss the need to “..avoid political and other outside activities that may compromise integrity or impartiality..” Political endorsements are not impartial.

 

[Geoist]

It is unethical for them to do so in their capacity as editors.

Putting aside the fact I'm speaking to an authoritarian who doesn't give two shits about ethics, I don't agree.

 

[Slartibartfast]

It does discuss the need to maintain impartiality. Political endorsements are not impartial.

Do you mean specifically this statement?

Refuse gifts, favors, fees, free travel and special treatment, and avoid political and other outside activities that may compromise integrity or impartiality, or may damage credibility.​

 

[Slartibartfast]

Do you mean specifically this statement?

Refuse gifts, favors, fees, free travel and special treatment, and avoid political and other outside activities that may compromise integrity or impartiality, or may damage credibility.​

Given that you liked it. I don’t think any moralists are accepting gifts, special treatment, travel, etc for their newspaper endorsement of a candidate, so it’s not a violation.

 

[Napoleon]

Do you mean specifically this statement?

Refuse gifts, favors, fees, free travel and special treatment, and avoid political and other outside activities that may compromise integrity or impartiality, or may damage credibility.​

Yes, in particular this:

“…avoid political and other outside activities that may compromise integrity or impartiality…”

Endorsements of political candidates compromise impartiality because they are by definition partial. You are no longer impartial when you announce to the world that your outlet has an official political position.

 

[Slartibartfast]

Yes, in particular this:

“…avoid political and other outside activities that may compromise integrity or impartiality…”

Endorsements of political candidates compromise impartiality because they are by definition partial.

Yeah that has nothing to do with an editorial endorsement, so you have nothing you need to worry about.

 

[Napoleon]

Yeah that has nothing to do with an editorial endorsement, so you have nothing you need to worry about.

It has everything to do with editorial endorsement. When the people responsible for the content of the paper announce in their official capacity that they have an official political position and agenda by way of endorsement then the paper can no longer be considered as impartial. You can’t officially take sides and claim impartiality.

 

[Questerr]

It is unethical for them to do so in their capacity as editors.

Where did you get your PhD in Journalism?

 

[Napoleon]

Where did you get your PhD in Journalism?

Cornell. You?

 

[Bodi]

Yeah, that's not the Amazon model.

Flee? People are "fleeing" a newspaper? For ****'s Sake... the drama/.

They "unsubscribed" and it is not a big deal.

 

[poweRob]

Yeah, that's not the Amazon model.

I was one of those 200,000 this weekend.

 

[Napoleon]

I was one of those 200,000 this weekend.

You were paying for the news?

 

[Questerr]

Cornell. You?

Really, you have a PhD in journalism from Cornell? This is lie no different than you claiming to be a moderate.

 

[Napoleon]

Really, you have a PhD in journalism from Cornell? This is lie no different than you claiming to be a moderate.

I said where mine came from. Where’s your PhD from..in anything?

 

[poweRob]

I canceled my WPO subscription but I confess to being shallow, kept my Amazon Prime

Same. I'm not the only one making the household decisions.

 

[j brown's body]

All journalists are obligated to the same code of ethics.

Its perfectly ethical for journalists to express opinions on the editorial page, which is what we are talking about here. It's unethical for them to do that as reporters who are covering news stories.

 

[Questerr]

I said where mine came from. Where’s your PhD from..in anything?

And you are lying, just like you do when you claim to be a moderate.

 

[Slartibartfast]

It has everything to do with editorial endorsement. When the people responsible for the content of the paper announce in their official capacity that they have an official political position and agenda by way of endorsement then the paper can no longer be considered as impartial. You can’t officially take sides and claim impartiality.

Nope. We know what you are saying is a lie because you had to take the quote out of context. Here is the full line:

Refuse gifts, favors, fees, free travel and special treatment, and avoid political and other outside activities that may compromise integrity or impartiality, or may damage credibility.​

Given that, there needs to be some of value exchanged or do stuff like be a part of politically rallies for your out of context quote to be triggered.

 

[j brown's body]

It is unethical for them to do so in their capacity as editors.

An editorial "is a newspaper article written by or on behalf of an editor that gives an opinion on a topical issue."

Link

 

[Napoleon]

Its perfectly ethical for journalists to express opinions on the editorial page, which is what we are talking about here. It's unethical for them to do that as reporters who are covering news stories.

It’s unethical for them to do anything that brings their impartiality into question. You might be able to make an argument if one of them took out a full page ad in the NYT saying what they thought as a private person but not giving their own paper an official position in their official capacity as editors of the paper.

 

[trixare4kids]

I think I’ll start my subscription back up again.

 

[Craig234]

It's funny how bad Republicans are at politics. The story of "Washington Post about to endorse Harris, but prevented by Bezos trying to pander to trump, causing staff uproar and 200,000 cancellations" is a much bigger story making it clear they endorse Harris and giving one more reason to oppose trump, than the expected endorsement would have been.