The Washington Post is facing an upheaval following owner Jeff Bezos’s recent choice to block an endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris in the upcoming presidential election.
According to NPR, the fallout resulted in over 200,000 digital subscription cancellations, representing around 8% of the paper’s 2.5 million paid subscribers.
Raised eyebrows over timing and motives
Former Executive Editor Marcus Brauchli expressed alarm over the situation. “It’s a colossal number,” noting the uncertainty surrounding the decision-making process that led to this move. Chief Executive Will Lewis framed the decision as a return to the Post’s independent roots, but many staff members remain sceptical given the timing, just days before a contentious election.
Former Executive Editor Marty Baron echoed these concerns, emphasizing that the decision lacked thorough deliberation from the editorial board.
“If this decision had been made three years ago, it would’ve been fine,” he stated. “But making it right before an election seems driven by other motives.”
In a rare public acknowledgment, Bezos himself conceded that the timing was less than ideal. “That was inadequate planning and not some intentional strategy,” he wrote in an opinion piece.
The implications of this decision are profound. Reporters at The Post have extensively covered allegations against Donald Trump and his associates, characterizing him as a threat to democracy.
Brauchli remarked that the surge in cancellations reflects the current political climate and the deep feelings it evokes. He cautioned against abandoning subscriptions as a form of protest, highlighting the value of quality journalism.
Discontent within the organization?
Adding to the turmoil, two columnists have resigned from the paper, and two writers have stepped down from the editorial board in protest. Molly Roberts articulated her concerns about the decision’s potential consequences, warning that silence could embolden authoritarianism.
David Hoffman, a Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial writer, expressed dismay at losing the paper’s voice in critical moments for democracy.
Hoffman intends to stay at The Post but called the decision to withhold an endorsement “untenable”. His decision to quit the editorial board, alongside the resignation of his colleagues, underscores a broader discontent within the organization.
During a tense staff meeting, Editorial Page Editor David Shipley faced tough questions from employees, revealing that he had tried to persuade Bezos to reconsider but was unsuccessful. Former columnist Robert Kagan lamented that the paper was “bending the knee to Donald Trump“.
Bezos vs. journalistic integrity
In response to the growing dissent, Bezos clarified his stance, asserting that the decision was rooted in a desire for non-bias and independence. He denied any ulterior motives tied to his business interests, despite the timing of a meeting between officials of his aerospace company, Blue Origin, and Trump on the same day the endorsement decision was made public.
Bezos admitted that his ownership complicates perceptions of conflict. “When it comes to the appearance of conflict, I am not an ideal owner of The Post,” he wrote, yet he defended his track record of supporting journalistic integrity.
As the situation continues to develop, the future of The Washington Post hangs in the balance, with its staff and subscribers watching closely.