Washington Post report: Subscriber loss after non-endorsement reaches a quarter million

The Washington Submit has misplaced not less than 250,000 subscribers since saying final Friday that it could not endorse a candidate for president — roughly 10 p.c of its digital following, the newspaper reported Wednesday.

The Submit wouldn’t formally affirm that determine, saying it was a personal firm, but it surely was reported in a narrative within the newspaper that cited paperwork and two unnamed sources who had been aware of the figures. One other non-endorsement final week has brought on 1000’s of Los Angeles Occasions readers to cancel subscriptions, though not almost on the Submit’s degree.

One journalism historian, Jon Marshall at Northwestern College, stated he had a tough time recalling a comparable response, though a boycott of the Arkansas Gazette when it supported the combination of Little Rock faculties in 1957 value that newspaper greater than $20 million in right this moment’s {dollars}.

The Submit’s proprietor, Jeff Bezos, stated presidential endorsements create a notion of bias on the newspaper whereas having little actual affect on how readers vote. His stated his solely remorse was making the choice identified when passions are heated so near Election Day; the paper’s editorial employees had reportedly ready an endorsement of Democrat Kamala Harris.

“Lots of people would have forgotten in regards to the Harris endorsement slated to run within the newspaper,” the Submit’s media critic, Erik Wemple, wrote. “Few will overlook in regards to the resolution to not publish it.”

The Submit’s govt editor, Matt Murray, advised workers in a employees assembly that there have been “a number of constructive days” of latest subscribers signing up, though he didn’t point out any numbers, the newspaper reported.

A number of the Submit’s indignant digital readers have additionally already paid for a yr’s entry, and can retain that till their subscriptions expire.

“After one other month or so, the election could have ended, and there could also be individuals who say that ‘I want the Submit greater than they want me’ and are available again,” stated Rick Edmonds, media enterprise analyst on the Poynter Institute.

The Submit additionally noticed an enormous enhance in subscribers throughout Donald Trump’s presidency from individuals drawn to the newspaper’s aggressive protection, elevating the potential for a repeat if the person that the newspaper wasn’t ready to endorse is returned to workplace.

Within the meantime, Edmonds stated, “it’s very dangerous.” After dropping readers through the Biden administration, the Submit had reportedly seen constructive indicators of progress — till this week.

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David Bauder writes about media for the AP. Observe him at http://x.com/dbauder.