Poll: Newspaper Endorsements Are Not Popular

The 2024 election season is over, but the debate about presidential endorsements is likely to go on following the decisions by the Washington Post and Los Angeles Times to offer no endorsements.

A new report from NiemanLab shows that three-quarters of the largest newspapers in the country have not endorsed anyone this year. 

Of the publications studied, 22 newspapers have endorsed Kamala Harris, 2 have gone for Donald Trump and 71 have endorsed no one.  

The biggest culprits are the nation’s  four largest newspaper chains: Alden Global Capital (through its control of MediaNews Group and Tribune Publishing), Gannett, Lee Newspapers, and McClatchy, NiemanLab writes. 

Meanwhile, MediaPost reports pundits criticizing The Washington Post and other papers for not endorsing a presidential candidate are out of step with the electorate. 

A new poll by YouGov shows that 47% of voters feel newspapers should not back a candidate. Another 28% believe they should, while the remaining 25% are unsure. 

Democrats are more likely to support endorsements — 45% do, versus 22% of. Independents and 17% of Republicans. And 66% of Republicans are against them.

Among generations, endorsements are unpopular with 41% of Gen Z, 41% of millennials, 52% of Gen X and 50% of people aged 65+.  

The results also vary according to race: 48% of whites are against endorsements, as are 40% of Blacks, 45% of Hispanics and 50% of those in the “other” category. 

In contrast, 30% of whites say publications should endorse candidates, while 31% of Black voters agree. Only 21% of Hispanic voters concur, and 20% of those classified as “other.”