Jeff Bezos is under scrutiny regarding his ownership of the Washington Post, particularly concerning the challenges the paper has faced since he acquired it 12 years ago.
A lengthy article published in The New Yorker asks the provocative question, “Is Jeff Bezos Selling Out the Washington Post?”
The piece outlines events beginning with Bezos’ $250 million purchase of the iconic publication from the Graham family in 2013. It discusses changes in leadership over the years—first Marty Baron, then Sally Busby, and now interim executive editor Matt Murray—while touching on newsroom controversies and the complex relationship with former President Donald Trump.
Wapo columnist criticizes Bezos’ decisions.
In the article, a Post employee described Bezos as isolated and disengaged during a meeting with journalists in January 2023. “He doesn’t seem to be involved like a responsible owner should be,” the journalist noted. “If you’re owning a media property today, you really need to understand its landscape,” they added.
Bezos has faced criticism for what many see as missteps during his tenure, highlighted by his decision to withdraw a planned editorial backing for Kamala Harris just weeks before the 2024 election. “It was poorly handled, and it all fell on Bezos, which upset a lot of people,” said an unnamed Post staff member. “Had we announced this policy two years ago, it might not have mattered.”
This controversial move prompted Bezos to call for resignations and led to over 250,000 subscriptions being canceled by disgruntled liberal readers. It’s uncertain whether the paper can recover from this long-term impact.
Washington Post evaluates healthcare policy discourse.
In the months that followed, the Post saw significant turnover in its top talent, with national editor Philip Rucker joining CNN and editor Mattia Gold moving to the New York Times. Meanwhile, another prominent reporter, Josh Dorsey, transitioned to the Wall Street Journal. Recently, reporter Aaron Blake also left for a senior position at CNN.
“Losing Aaron is definitely a setback for us, but it’s a solid move for him—CNN really knows how to elevate talent,” expressed a Post staff member.
Other staff members have also departed, with some openly protesting against Bezos. Columnists like Jannifer Rubin and Eugene Robinson have voiced their discontent. In January, cartoonist Anne Ternaes resigned in protest, stating she couldn’t contribute to a publication that celebrated Bezos, who had previously shown favoritism to a rival political figure. Intriguingly, she recently won a Pulitzer Prize for her insightful commentary during her time with the Post.
Resignations reveal underlying issues.
Post opinion editor David Shipley resigned in February, frustrated by Bezos’ defense of “personal freedom and free markets,” which he felt stifled diverse viewpoints. Veteran columnist Ruth Marcus also left after her work was dismissed under Bezos’ policies. Similar to earlier events, this move resulted in another loss of 250,000 subscribers.
Morale at the Post seems to be troubled but not uniformly low, with finger-pointing often directed at Bezos. Will Lewis, the publisher chosen by Bezos, has faced his own challenges since taking over in 2024.
Staff expressed dissatisfaction with Lewis’s leadership style. They recounted a particularly tone-deaf comment he made during a meeting, stating, “People aren’t reading your work,” while discussing financial losses.
“Will has been almost invisible since July and didn’t even show up on Pulitzer Day,” noted someone from the Post.
A spokesperson for the Washington Post contended, “Lewis is committed to supporting the newsroom and regularly attends meetings to provide encouragement.”
According to the New Yorker article, staff members attributed their departures to a lack of vision for the future of the paper. “The challenges faced by the Post feel quite unfair,” remarked a former top editor.
Despite the struggles, some remain hopeful.
Despite the prevailing issues, employees who spoke to Fox News Digital conveyed a sense of resilience. They highlighted the two Pulitzer Prizes awarded to the paper recently, alongside notable investigative work during the Trump era. Some expressed appreciation for Bezos, believing he played a pivotal role in preventing the Post from a more significant decline. “We were at rock bottom when he bought it; I really hope we can find our way back,” one staff member shared.
