When WaPo’s quarter million Subscribers left due to non-endorsement of the presidential candidate by it, following the pressure from Mr. Bezos; and indeed, when it comes to subscription of Newsletters, Digital Subscriptions Opinions, Blogs etc., it isn’t an easy way journey, and even a Single subscription counts, as the subscribing person has to choose and read myriad words written by Columnists, Authors, Journalists, Bloggers. Unlike Social Media Platforms alike Instagram, YT, X, TikTok that literally mouth-feeds you.
But why a written opinion matters in the age of social media platforms? As any subscriber, who reads WaPo’s columns & news daily, and see the same columnist/journalist on social media platforms opining the same belief (mostly left leaning); then should a written endorsement / no-endorsement even matter? Before that, take this example first. You might’ve heard in cases of defamations, when the defendant says, ‘Oh! I lost my temper and “said” those words, and I apologize, and it was all natural!’; but, when it comes to Writing & Publishing anything, then the person’s thought process is involved; and that person wants to take the credibility, standing, of the words written in the public domain, as a Publisher, Writer, which are not mere instant emotional reactions, of course with a caveat involved that -> ‘to the best of my knowledge and belief’.Thus ethically, albeit mainstream shouldn’t endorse anyone in the elections; but the Subscribers who initially subscribed to it on the partisan lines, it mattered to them, because, again as said, a thought process is involved in writing & publishing an endorsement / no-endorsement, and not mere emotional outbursts in any talk shows, on social media; and there’s thus this responsibility involved, with a caveat, of course, as stated above.
That’s why, WaPo’s written opinion mattered mostly to its left leaning Subscribers.
Similarly, when you hear a new
product launched by Big Tech, for official confirmation and reporting, you read
their NEWSLETTERs, Blogs, first, or, Announcements made in person; and not mere rely
on what anyone is opining on X, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok. Even the company cite
the same resource, for official confirmation. And that’s why, Internet
used to be trustworthy till early 00s. :)
© Pranav Chaturvedi 2024