Paper has no opinion on abortion?

In a recent article brought to us by the great folks at Editor and Publisher, South Dakota's largest newspaper is not choosing sides in the state's new abortion law.

This is an excerpt of the article:

"Part of it was that we wouldn't change people's minds, and part of it, regardless of which side we came down on this, is that people would read into it things that are not true," Chuck Baldwin, editorial page editor of the Argus Leader in Sioux Falls, S.D., told E&P. "People would think our coverage is tainted, and not just on abortion but on everything."

When asked if such a view could preclude editorials on virtually any controversial issue, Baldwin disagreed. "Abortion is different from other issues," he replied. "It is a hot-button issue at the core of everyone's soul. It will not change no matter what."

I find it quite odd that the editorial leaders of the paper have decided to take a pass on one of the most controversial issues that has ever hit the state. Surely they have an opinion on it. Everyone does (Although I will not state mine because I'm a news reporter, not an editorial writer).

However, as a news reporter I'm suppose to write the important news. For example, if I was in S.D. I would write a news article about the new abortion law. Now, an editorial writer's job is to share opinions on the big headlines. Seems like they aren't doing their jobs in S.D.

Are they afraid of offending their subscribers? Is there opinion different from the majority of their customer base?

I don't have the answers but it sure seems worth pondering for a while.