Michele Norris, a long-time columnist at The Washington Post, made headlines recently with her decision to resign from the newspaper following their choice not to endorse a presidential candidate in the upcoming election. This move, which came as a shock to many, marked the second departure of a columnist after Robert Kagan also left the publication.
Norris took to social media to express her disappointment in The Post’s decision, calling it a “terrible mistake” and an “insult to the paper’s own longstanding standard of regularly endorsing candidates since 1976.” Having been associated with The Post since 1988 as a reporter and later as an opinion columnist since 2019, Norris has been a prominent voice within the publication.
Despite Norris’ strong stance against the non-endorsement, other journalists both within and outside the organization have come to The Post’s defense. They have highlighted the hard work and dedication of the reporters and editors at the newspaper who are now facing the consequences of canceled subscriptions and a loss of trust from readers.
David Maraniss, a respected figure at The Post, initially criticized the decision not to endorse a candidate, calling it “contemptible.” However, in a later reflection, he acknowledged the complexities of the situation and praised the efforts of the reporters and editors who continue to uphold the values of journalism.
Outside voices have also weighed in on the controversy. CNN anchor Jake Tapper emphasized the importance of supporting journalism by not canceling subscriptions, while Ellen Cushing of The Atlantic suggested that canceling Amazon Prime memberships, owned by Jeff Bezos who also owns The Post, could have a more significant impact.
While Norris and Kagan are the only two columnists to have resigned thus far, 18 others published a dissent of the decision, expressing their disappointment in the departure from the newspaper’s editorial traditions. Despite the internal turmoil, humor columnist Alexandra Petri used satire to endorse Kamala Harris for president, highlighting the unique and diverse voices within The Post.
Overall, The Washington Post’s decision not to endorse a candidate has sparked a range of reactions from within and outside the organization. The fallout from this controversial choice underscores the challenges facing modern journalism and the importance of upholding editorial standards and journalistic integrity.
