Moss insisted that the newspaper run an editorial endorsing Bush for president. I said I wouldn't write it. Levine said he wouldn't write it. That left it up to Moss. He decided to punt. Levine and I considered it a victory of sorts in that we avoided endorsing Bush and I wrote an editorial that, to this day, remains remarkably unimprinted on my brain. We had an opinion on the election, but no endorsement and I have no idea what I wrote.
That was the hanging chads election in Florida which the Supreme Court gave to Bush. It was also the only time that Moss made any such demands on me editorially and even he compromised his position.
Unfortunately, both Levine and Moss are no longer with us so I have no way to check my recollection of events, but I'm pretty sure I got it right. If any librarian reading this can find a copy, I'd love to see it.
In any event, I'm glad The New York Times whose reporting on the campaign, has left much to be desired, still had the courage of its convictions this year to write a strong endorsement of Harris for president. I'm sure other newspapers around the country will do likewise. But the continuing growing control of newspapers in this country by a few rich, powerful entities is a threat to democracy that, I feel, too few Americans appreciate.
Our founding fathers gave newspapers the protection of a free voice for a reason. If you don't use it, you lose it.
By Bob Gaydos rjgaydos@gmail.com
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
1
1
1
