By james art 
By choosing not to support a presidential candidate, The Washington Post upholds the ideal that a free press should empower citizens to make decisions.
“The press doesn’t tell us what to think, it tells us what to think.” This phrase by Walter Lippmann (1889-1974), a pioneer of ethical journalism, captures the essence of the media’s role in society.
A free media is essential in a free society, providing citizens with the information they need to make informed decisions without imposing specific opinions.
Jeff Bezos, Amazon’s largest shareholder, owns The Washington Postwhile William Lewis, a seasoned journalist with a strong background in quality British newspapers, serves as its publisher and chief executive.
The Washington Postone of the most respected newspapers in the United States, has historically supported a presidential candidate before an election, usually the Democrats (with the exception of President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1952). These were never editor-in-chief endorsements alone; rather, they were collective, anonymous endorsements by the editorial board as a whole – casting doubt on the impartiality of the practice.
Such endorsements can be seen as telling readers what to think, rather than encouraging independent thought and decision-making.
There seems to be a growing tendency towards uniformity of thinking.
This year, however, Mr. Lewis decided there would be no endorsement, despite opposition from some The Washington Post journalists and editors. The endorsement would likely favor Vice President Kamala Harris.
Mr. Lewis justified his decision by saying the approval would undermine the mission of an independent press. He stated:
We are aware that this will be interpreted in various ways, including as tacit approval of one candidate, or as condemnation of another, or as an abdication of responsibility. This is inevitable. We don’t see it that way. We see it as consistent with the values The Post has always stood for and what we hope for in a leader: character and courage in service of the American ethic, reverence for the rule of law, and respect for human freedom in all its aspects.
Mr Lewis described the decision as “a statement in support of our readers’ ability to make up their own minds”.
There was immediate speculation that Jeff Bezos may have influenced the decision to avoid potential conflicts for his business under the Donald Trump administration. Even if the motivation was spinelessness in this particular case, the choice not to support a candidate still demonstrates a commitment to the principle of journalism’s true role in a democratic society.
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Unfortunately, the European media also seem increasingly inclined to steer public opinion towards predetermined views rather than offering a variety of information, explanations and commentary. Rather than fostering a marketplace of ideas that is critical to a free society and a functioning democracy, there seems to be a growing trend toward uniformity in thinking.
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