Atlanta Journal Constitution: Taking a Shortcut to Irrelevance?

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The Associated Press reports that The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has decided not to endorse candidates as part of its election coverage.

The editorial board purportedly is taking marching orders from its readers, which it claims don't need the newspaper to tell them for whom to vote, but rather, to provide information about the candidates' backgrounds, accomplishments and policy aims.

"TUOL" isn't buying it.  It looks like timidity, a newspaper afraid that it might alienate a shrinking readership base by supporting a candidate and being branded "liberal" or "ultra-conversative."  Newspapers attend political gatherings and interview candidates 1 on 1 with the proxy of  readers. These readers have an obligation as citizens to inform themselves about the officials they elect, and should be able to look to their newspaper's editorial board's choice for guidance, not fiat.

The Journal-Constitution apparently is willing to shrug its shoulders--along with its responsibility--and leave it to bloggers, partisan and non-partisan, to carry on its duty. The Journal-Constitution is the flagship paper of Cox Enterprises, Inc.