Following outcry from some former Gannett journalists, chief content material officer Kristin Roberts defended the corporate’s resolution to not endorse a presidential candidate this 12 months throughout an earnings name with traders Thursday.
“We’re dedicated to turning into the main digital information and content material vacation spot in America. To completely harness this potential, now we have deliberately returned to our roots as a facts-forward, down-the-center survey of our nation,” Roberts stated. “There’s a considerably underserved viewers in search of a viewpoint that displays the center majority, and we imagine we’re capturing this chance.”
The political journalism at Gannett and its greater than 200 native papers has resonated with audiences, Roberts stated. Throughout its third quarter, which ended on Sept. 30, Gannett surpassed 200 million common month-to-month distinctive guests for the primary time in its historical past, up 7% from the identical interval final 12 months. The corporate has had no less than 1 billion web page views for 14 consecutive months.
Although Gannett’s flagship paper USA In the present day endorsed President Joe Biden in 2020, the corporate encouraged its papers to cease endorsements in nationwide races in 2022. The following 12 months, Roberts joined Gannett and determined to formally finish such endorsements, CNN reported.
Native papers nonetheless have the choice of endorsing on the state or native stage, Roberts stated.
“We imagine America’s future is determined regionally, one race at a time,” Roberts stated. “… Many have determined to not endorse particular person candidates, however slightly endorse key native and state points on the poll that influence the group. Our public service is to supply readers with the details that matter and the trusted data they should make knowledgeable choices.”
Some former Gannett journalists have criticized the corporate for declining to endorse a presidential candidate this 12 months. Former USA In the present day editor-in-chief Ken Paulson called the decision a “gag order on native journalism” in an opinion piece earlier this week.
Roberts emphasised on the earnings name that the corporate made its resolution on endorsements “greater than a 12 months in the past.” Previously few weeks, a number of retailers — most notably The Washington Publish and the Los Angeles Occasions — have confronted heavy pushback for pulling endorsements so near the election. These choices have led to resignations and canceled subscriptions with the Publish shedding greater than 250,000 subscribers and the Occasions shedding greater than 7,000.
Throughout her content material replace on Thursday’s name, Roberts additionally highlighted the community’s protection of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, throughout which Gannett papers arrange texting companies to speak important data to readers in catastrophe zones missing Wi-Fi. The corporate has additionally been specializing in its sports activities protection, which has seen excessive viewers engagement, particularly with tales in regards to the Paris Olympics and the NFL.
“Our ambition is to turn out to be the nation’s dominant sports activities content material group,” Roberts stated. “We imagine sports activities continues to current a promising alternative to develop our viewers, create personalised and related experiences and develop journeys which are anticipated to maximise digital income per consumer and per go to.”
