Yes, Newspaper Endorsements Matter -- Here is 'Proof' - Editor and Publisher

[steve2470]

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003875478

By Gret Mitchell

Published: October 17, 2008 8:55 PM ET

NEW YORK After a few weeks of cogitation, a number of leading newspapers have offered endorsements in the race for the White House this week. Just in the past day a bunch of heavyweights have weighed in -- all for Obama. In fact, our tally of all the endorsements now stands at 51-16 for Obama, which could be significant (Bush and Kerry pretty much split in 2004).

But does it matter? Stated or unstated, the common belief is that newspaper picks for president are meaningless; they influence no one, especially in an era when media approval ratings in polls rival the paltry numbers for lawyers.

But actually, I beg to differ with those who say endorsements have zero impact beyond local elections. Consider my amazingly accurate 11th hour predictions in 2004-- based solely on newspaper editorials.

Editor & Publisher has a decades-long tradition of logging endorsements for president. I don't know how it was done in a timely fashion before the Internet Age -- the mind boggles -- but in 2004, starting in mid-September of that year, we started checking the Web for any and all newspaper endorsements.

more at link above

[FVZA_Colonel]

1. It's actually gone up to 58-16.

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003875230

[Blondiegrrl]

2. Interesting article. K&R!