Chris,

In my opinion, positions voiced on the editorial page do less to persuade than they do to illuminate. They help the reader understand the prism through which the news has been filtered. Thoughtful readers do realize that everyone, even "objective" reporters, must have subjective opinions. And based on those editorials we find validation of your opinions in the often nuanced (and probably subconscious) prominence and editing of important stories.

If I were running the editorial page (thanks for asking, but no), I would do less to reveal my personal bias toward candidates and more to explain the rationale of their supporters. 

Well, now. I'm very conflicted on this one. Everyone would like newpapers to be fair and objective and endorsements of candidates are certainly a conflict of interest in that regard. But since most people who work and write for papers are still liberals at heart and can't help themselves when it comes to their desire to use their percieved power to implement their world view and change the world and get everyone else to agree with them...well, you get the point. If you want to report the news and be trusted as you do that job you shouldn't be trying to make news. If you need me to tell you this then you aren't fit to do the job.

William F. Buckley could have told you this, but alas you would not have listened to him or any other conservative.

My only hesitancy in telling you that you ought not be endorsing candidates is the fact that every time you endorse against our statesman Congressman Ron Paul his opponent absolutely gets slaughtered...and just the opposite of what you intended occurs. Well I would hate to break the cycle of voters telling you where to stick it...I mean, that is just way too much fun. So, please, keep on endorsing so that we can keep on showing you how irrelevant you are and how we don't trust anything you say and how newspapers are rapidly becoming a thing of the past and it is their own fault because they quit reporting the news thanks to their own stupid arrogance.

My vote is that you keep endorsing candidates. Your wisdom is more than we mere mortals can stand and we eagerly wait for your guidance to tell us what to think and how to vote. Please keep endorsing. Without you we are LOST and won't know what to do. :-)

hehehe

Roy Mark says Hello maryann

The idea of a newspaper being strictly a nonpartisan news reporting paper seems to be completely foreign to many papers these days. Maybe with the continued drop in circulation the papers feel that they have to try to appeal to some particular faction to try to stop the bleeding.  Mr. Cobler asks the question "Should newspapers offer election endorsements?" A newspaper in this context means as Cobler says The Advocate editorial board. The Advocate's Editorial Board endorsement has about as much meaning to me as the constant pro Republican, or pro Democrat  propaganda, spin, or what ever that fills  the blogs, forums etc. every day. There is one difference of course the forums, blog etc are drive by shot from anonymous writers. But even the Advocate hides behind "The Editorial Board" endorses. Who comprises this board and for what reason should I value its opinion?

Hello Chris,

IMO, one of the reasons people own and run newspapers is for the common good of informing society, but also to influence the world and opinions. In a capitalist society, those papers that don't fit the market where they are would not be profitable, so a balance does have to be struck.

I think it's fine and dandy for the newspaper to be up front with its endorsements. At least they are being clear with their intentions. Can a paper be truly objective? I think its intentions should be up front.

I don't always agree with the VA's picks, but I do read the points and take them into consideration.

Also, IMO, I see no evidence whatsoever of "elitism," under Tim Delaney's guidance of the Viewpoints page. He's always supportive when I talk to him on the phone about letters to the editor, and I appreciate that.

roymark

Mike write It's the right that pays attention to the cartoons,columnist,endorsements etc. in this city. Mike is right.  The straight ticket voting Liberal Dems on here don't care who is endorsed as long as they have a D after their name.

I appreciate the various feedback so far. To be clear, I posed this question out of a concern about how readers perceive the newspaper's fairness, not because of any fear about mass cancellations. I'm not aware of even a single cancellation because of our latest round of election endorsements.

After reading your comments so far, I remain torn about the value of election endorsements. I hear some of you -- who all say you wouldn't cancel a subscription over an endorsement -- say the editorials make you question the newspaper's fairness. I hear others say it's part of the newspaper's First Amendment obligation to offer endorsements. I certainly share the sentiment that we want to make people talk and think.

You're only going to get accusations of bias from the people whose candidate you don't endorse. The people who will make such accusations do not understand the editorial opinion process.

I think that backing down from a traditional place that a newspaper holds in a community because of such ignorance is cowardly. I would have much less respect for a paper that backed down because they were afraid of taking a strong stance on a political candidate or an issue because it might anger a part of the readership that just doesn't know how things work.

If you're concerned with accusations of bias, take the opportunity to educate people on the hows and whys of endorsements. And do it alongside the endorsements in the print Advocate.

As long as the endorsements do not come from the angle of personal preferences, but instead are based on rational judgement of the candidates' positions and their value for the Victoria area, the state of Texas, and the country, then the paper has a strong defense against any accusations of bias. in fact, these endorsements are a jumping off point for a good, lively conversation in the community about the elections. The Advocate has the ability to start a conversation base on rationality and thought.

Don't stop doing things because some readers don't like what you say. Educate, inform, and - most of all - make people talk and think.

Toni,

The Advocate's editorial board consists of the publisher, secretary/treasurer, community conversation editor, circulation director, senior editor, managing editor, local editor, assistant local editor, a senior copy editor and myself as editor.

Except for election endorsements, do you see evidence of elitism in other opinions on the Viewpoints page or in news coverage?

I admire how involved you are in the political process. If you ever want to attend one of our editorial board meetings, we'd be happy to get your input. You can give me a call at the office to set that up -- 574-1271.

Chris

I don't think that newspapers or any media outlet should endorse anyone.

We all joke about it, but the media is supposed to be unbiased to provide the most accurate coverage.

When I was in high school, I got into UIL and "newswriting."

I fared pretty well for myself in that arena and it only validated my hopes of making a career for myself in journalism.

The very first thing I learned was that in order to win the competition, you had to write about the facts and do it without any bias.

I don't have a subscription to your paper (because I am trying to save trees and I do everything online...) but even if I did, I wouldn't cancel it over this - even though I feel as another commenter that it hurts the credibility of the paper.

I don't know who your editorial board is or what it takes to be on it, but from the things I have seen come from this "board," I can tell it is a small group of elitests who apparently are doing and saying what is in their best interests and not the community.

Take the safe route and endorse John McCain....I am not a spokesman for the left ,but I am pretty sure no one from the left will

even question your decision,because our minds are made up.

It's the right that pays attention to the cartoons,columnist,endorsements etc. in this city.

Been down this road before. ....I will not ever cancel my subscription over what the Victoria Advocate does.

It's your opinion,your endorsement ...Nothing else.

It has always been a tradition for the Advocate to endorse, so don't break that  trdition and go the safe route ....John McCain.