McClatchy’s 30 newspapers probably won’t be endorsing this year

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The New York Times reported yesterday that McClatchy’s 30 papers will be permitted to make a presidential endorsement only if they conduct interviews with both Joseph R. Biden Jr. and President Trump, who is not in the habit of talking to local newspaper editorial boards. McClatchy’s policy was distributed internally by Colleen McCain Nelson, McClatchy’s national opinion editor.

“If we don’t interview the candidates, we won’t make a recommendation for president,” the memo says. “Most readers aren’t turning to us for national political commentary, and they can choose among dozens of news organizations that deploy journalists to cover the presidential campaign full-time. If we’re simply observing the race from afar, our ability to provide unique content and our own reporting is severely limited.”

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McClatchy, elections