New York CNN —
Gannett, the parent company of the largest newspaper chain in the United States, has made a significant announcement stating that none of its more than 200 publications, which prominently feature USA Today, will be offering presidential endorsements leading up to the crucial November 5 election.
In an official statement, Gannett specified that while its network of newspapers, known as the USA Today Network, will abstain from making presidential endorsements this election cycle, these publications retain the right to endorse candidates at the state and local levels based on their own editorial discretion.
“Why are we doing this? Because we believe America’s future is decided locally – one race at a time,” articulated Gannett’s chief communications officer, Lark-Marie Antón, in a statement to CNN. “And with the widespread reach of our 200-plus publications across the nation, our fundamental mission is to equip readers with essential facts and trustworthy information, enabling them to make well-informed choices at the ballot box.”
The decision to refrain from presidential endorsements was influenced last year by Gannett Media’s chief content officer, Kristin Roberts, as revealed by a source familiar with the matter. Roberts determined that Gannett Media, which encompasses USA Today and its vast network, would not seek endorsements at the national level. While newsrooms were informed, the company chose not to publicly disclose this decision at the time, according to the insider who spoke to CNN.
Antón further clarified, “This was an editorial decision; it had nothing to do with Gannett corporate. The perception that our corporate team influenced editorial decisions is simply not accurate.”
Gannett Media’s extensive portfolio of newspapers—including notable names like The Arizona Republic, northjersey.com, The Tennessean, and the Detroit Free Press—boasts a considerable readership, with two million paid digital-only subscribers and an impressive average daily print readership reaching approximately 2.9 million from Monday through Saturday across 43 states.
This trend of forgoing presidential endorsements is not exclusive to Gannett. In a similar move, the Los Angeles Times recently announced it would not be publishing a planned endorsement of Kamala Harris, a decision that was echoed by The Washington Post shortly thereafter. The announcements triggered a wave of staff resignations and prompted thousands of readers to cancel their subscriptions.
In 2016, USA Today made headlines by breaking its long-standing tradition to publish its first-ever anti-endorsement since its inception in 1982, citing Donald Trump as “unfit for office.” However, the editorial board clarified that this stance did not translate into unconditional support for Hillary Clinton, as there was no consensus within the board for her endorsement. The op-ed emphasized the uniqueness of each presidential race, committing to reassess their no-endorsement policy every four years.
“We’ve never seen reason to alter our approach,” the editorial board expressed at that time. “Until now.”
In 2020, USA Today broke from its previous tradition once more, this time offering its very first strong endorsement for Joe Biden’s presidential campaign.
With just two weeks remaining until Election Day, the editorial board prompted voters to reflect on a variation of a pivotal question posed by Republican Ronald Reagan during his presidential campaign in 1980: Is America better off now than it was four years ago?
The announcement of USA Today’s decision to withdraw from presidential endorsements sparked a measure of controversy among its readership.
David Mastio, who previously served on the USA Today opinion team responsible for the 2020 endorsement of Biden, expressed profound disappointment regarding the recent pledge.
Mastio articulated that if the election featured two equally qualified major party nominees with contrasting viewpoints, he could understand an impartial stance. “But this is not a normal election, and these are not normal times. This year, character, competence, and credibility are on the ballot. Given Trump’s refusal to guarantee a peaceful transfer of power if he loses, so, too, is the future of America’s democracy,” he contended.
Mastio reiterated, “That remains true today. I am deeply disappointed that USA TODAY has lost its voice at this critical time for our country.”