Bezos: Endorsements “Create A Perception Of Bias”

Jeff Bezos writes for the Washington Post:

In the annual public surveys about trust and reputation, journalists and the media have regularly fallen near the very bottom, often just above Congress. But in this year’s Gallup poll, we have managed to fall below Congress. Our profession is now the least trusted of all. Something we are doing is clearly not working.

Most people believe the media is biased. Anyone who doesn’t see this is paying scant attention to reality, and those who fight reality lose. Reality is an undefeated champion.

Presidential endorsements do nothing to tip the scales of an election. No undecided voters in Pennsylvania are going to say, “I’m going with Newspaper A’s endorsement.” None. What presidential endorsements actually do is create a perception of bias. A perception of non-independence. Ending them is a principled decision, and it’s the right one.

Read the full op-ed. The cult is applauding on X.

Bezos, in an oped in WashPost: “The hard truth: Americans don’t trust the news media. The credibility gap can be bridged by independence.”

Show it by demonstrating that the editorial board has independence. From you.

Publish the endorsement editorial.https://t.co/VlSklNRzgU

— Kristin Wilson (@kristin__wilson) October 28, 2024