The New York Times has sparked outrage among New York City progressives and journalists over its decision to stop making endorsements in state and local races, including New York City Mayor Eric Adams' reelection bid. The move has been criticized as an abdication of the Times' civic responsibility and a surrender of its influence in local politics.
The New York Times, long considered a bastion of journalistic integrity and political influence, has made a controversial decision to cease issuing endorsements in New York state and local races, including the upcoming mayoral reelection campaign of Eric Adams. The move has been met with widespread criticism from progressives, journalists, and even former Times staffers, who argue that it is an abdication of the paper's civic responsibility and a surrender of its ability to shape the political discourse in its own backyard.
In a statement to Fox News Digital, Times opinion editor Kathleen Kingsbury defended the decision, stating that the editorial board "serves our mission to help our global audience understand the world by providing a consistent, independent view of the world based on time-tested institutional values." She added that the paper will continue to report aggressively on New York electoral races and offer perspectives on the candidates and issues involved, but will no longer be making official endorsements.
Times Abdicates Civic Responsibility, Ceases Endorsements in NYC Races
The Times' decision to discontinue endorsements in state and local races has been particularly controversial given its continued practice of endorsing candidates in presidential races. Critics argue that this inconsistency undermines the paper's commitment to impartiality and suggests that it is more concerned with influencing national politics than with addressing the pressing issues facing New Yorkers.
"This is a terrible decision," said Ben Smith, former Times columnist and current editor-in-chief of Semafor. "The Times edit board is abdicating the only thing anyone actually, really listened to them on, and leaving NYC politics to be continue to drift along, more or less controlled by tiny interest groups."
Times Abdicates Civic Responsibility, Ceases Endorsements in NYC Races
Other critics echoed Smith's concerns, arguing that the Times' endorsements have played a significant role in shaping the political landscape in New York City. "The civic life of our city is stronger when the @nytimes Editorial Board weighs in for progressivism and good government," said Pablo Zevallos, a lawyer and local Democratic
