Gannett, the owner of the largest newspaper chain in the U.S., announced that its over 200 publications, including USA Today, will refrain from publishing presidential endorsements ahead of the November 5 election. Instead, Gannett will allow its local outlets to endorse candidates at the state and local levels if they choose.
Lark-Marie Antón, Gannett’s chief communications officer, emphasized the importance of local decisions, stating, “America’s future is decided locally – one race at a time.” The decision to abstain from national endorsements was made last year by Kristin Roberts, Gannett Media’s chief content officer, who informed newsrooms but did not initially publicize the decision.
This move aligns Gannett with other major outlets, such as the Los Angeles Times and The Washington Post, which also opted out of presidential endorsements for the 2024 election. The decision has drawn criticism, particularly from former USA Today opinion team member David Mastio, who expressed disappointment, citing the significance of character and credibility in this year’s election.
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