This is just plain bizarre. The Knoxville, TN newspaper is asking its readers if they should make an endorsement in the presidential race.
Why this election? Their arguments are pretty specious.
My questions:
Why is this different from any other election? They're claiming no special access to the candidates in this digital age. Weren't we in the digital age in 2000 and 2004? Knoxville is in the heart of GOP stronghold East Tennessee, one of three major divisions of the great state of Tennessee. Are they that nervous about going for Obama that they're just going to stop picking candidates? Are they really wanting to go with McCain and Palin, and appease their GOP base in East Tennessee, but worried about looking like laughingstocks for picking the GOP ticket?
What should newspapers do in this day and age regarding presidential endorsements? Is the News Sentinel right? See their arguments for and against below.
From their site:
Should the KNS endorse in the presidential race?
I do believe this is quite unique for a newspaper, at least I don't recall it ever being done in my 27 years in the biz. I applaud it. Go vote in this innovative endeavor.
Presidential endorsements have been a longstanding tradition at this and most other American newspapers. Our editorial board follows the news closely, is well-informed on the issues and has a strong sense of the community.
But we don't interview the presidential candidates, as we do the candidates for local and state offices, and, in this digital age, we have no special access to information about them.
Is a presidential endorsement still useful and viable to our readers?
Let us know by going to knoxnews and offering your opinion. Comments also are welcome.
We can't guarantee that we will abide by a majority vote, but your feedback will be useful in helping us make a decision.
(Bumped to the top for the day.)
(P.S. No, I didn't call newspaper endorsements last month the "Chevy Corvair" of the 21st century. That was someone else running amok on my blog.)
UPDATE: Editor Jack McElroy at his blog: Arguments in favor of continuing the tradition: Our editorial board follows the news closely, is well-informed on the issues and has a strong sense of the community, so our opinion is useful to readers. Endorsements, like all editorials, help spark debate and discussion, an essential part of the democratic process.
Arguments against: We don't interview the presidential candidates, as we do the candidates for local and state offices , and, in this digital age, we have no special access to information about them. Presidential endorsements contribute to the polarization in our society and tend to aggravate readers and lead them to believe our coverage is biased.