Washington's Post employees are openly defying Jeff Bezos' leadership.
In a unprecedented move, Jeff Bezos, the proprietor of the Post, announced on a rare public platform that the newspaper's editorial section would shift its focus towards publishing daily opinion pieces that support and defend two core "pillars." The billionaire emphasized that while the editorial section would still cover a variety of topics, viewpoints that oppose those pillars would now be published by other outlets.
This announcement sent waves of surprise and unease through the Post, rattling both current and former staff members.
Former executive editor Marty Baron, who led the Post to a whopping 11 Pulitzer Prizes under his tenure, voiced his concerns to CNN, asserting that Bezos had inadvertently infringed upon personal liberties by "kowtowing" to President Trump. Baron contended that Bezos, whose business interests include Amazon and Blue Origin, had prioritized his commercial interests over the Post's long-standing principles in order to align with his views.
On the other hand, former senior managing editor Cameron Barr announced his decision to end his "professional association" with the Post, characterizing Bezos' changes as a "disturbing erosion" of commitment to diversity of opinion.
Post staffers echoed these sentiments, with Philip Bump, author of the "How to Read This Chart" newsletter, expressing utter bafflement on social media, and tech reporter Drew Harwell reporting significant dissatisfaction among long-time subscribers. Editor David Maraniss also declared that he would no longer write for the Post as long as Bezos remained its owner.
Amanda Katz, a former Opinion section editor who recently left the Post, decried the changes as an "abandonment" of journalistic principles in favor of Bezos' self-interest.
Controversy in the Newsroom
While the changes specifically target the Opinion section, economy reporter Jeff Stein and military affairs reporter Dan Lamothe have publicly pledged not to tolerate interference with the newsroom. Stein warned that any attempt by Bezos to encroach on the news side would prompt his immediate resignation.
Executive Editor Matt Murray and CEO and publisher Will Lewis sent emails to staff to allay growing concerns, maintaining that while Bezos was within his rights to enact changes in the Opinion section, the newsroom would "continue to pursue engaging, impactful journalism without fear or favor."
Customer Reaction
The news of the Opinion section overhaul has stirred up controversy among the Post's subscribers. New York magazine reported that Lewis had cautioned Bezos that the changes would likely result in further financial losses to the already struggling paper.
Critics alike have taken to social media, vowing to reallocate their subscription budgets to sources that uphold liberal democratic values, or to terminate their subscriptions altogether.
This isn't the first instance of billionaire media owners shaping their outlets. Patrick Soon-Shiong, owner of the Los Angeles Times, has been accused of embracing a conservative overhaul for the Times' Opinion section. Other major outlets, including ABC News and CBS News, have faced allegations of currying favor with Trump in recent times.
Baron, reflecting on the changes, expressed deep sadness and disgust, commenting that today's actions ran counter to his former practice and commitment to unbiased journalism.
[1] "The Washington Post Editorial Board Has Some Words for Amazon's Jeff Bezos Over the Op-Ed Section Shakeup," The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 30, 2023, from https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/washington-post-editorial-board-jeff-bezos-op-ed-section-shakeup-1221660
[2] "Jeff Bezos Faces Backlash After Announcing Washington Post Op-Ed Shift," Vanity Fair. Retrieved March 30, 2023, from https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2023/03/jeff-bezos-washington-post-op-ed-section
[3] "Washington Post Opinion Editor David Shipley to Leave," The Wrap. Retrieved March 30, 2023, from https://www.thewrap.com/washington-post-opinion-editor-david-shipley-to-leave/?utm_source=art_feed&utm_campaign=link_share
[4] "Inside the Washington Post's Op-Ed Shake-up — and What It Means for Journalism," The New Republic. Retrieved March 30, 2023, from https://newrepublic.com/article/171310/inside-washington-post-op-ed-shake-up-means-journalism
The announcement by Bezos to shift the Post's editorial focus undermined the newspaper's long-standing commitment to diverse viewpoints, drawing significant criticism from former editors and staff members. Former Opinion section editor Amanda Katz characterized the changes as an abandonment of journalistic principles in favor of Bezos' self-interest. The controversy also reached the newsroom, with economy reporter Jeff Stein threatening to resign if Bezos interfered with the news side.
