February 28th 2025.
In a recent report by NPR, it was revealed that Jeff Bezos, the billionaire owner of The Washington Post, has made the decision to adopt a more libertarian viewpoint for the publication's opinion sections. This move has caused two prominent resignations within the company.
In a memo dated February 26th, Bezos informed the editors that the paper's focus will now be on supporting and defending personal liberties and free markets. While other topics will still be covered, opinions that go against these pillars will not be published. This decision has led to the resignation of opinions editor David Shipley, who was brought in by Bezos from Bloomberg Opinions in 2022.
Sources close to Shipley have stated that he preferred a more diverse and inclusive approach, while Bezos wanted a more focused opinion section. In an attempt to justify his decision, Bezos wrote that he is proud to be American and believes that freedom in all aspects, especially in the economic realm, has contributed to the country's success.
Shipley did not speak to NPR directly, but it is reported that he expressed concerns to Bezos that this move would go against the Post's promise of holding those in power accountable. This decision has caused controversy within the company, with many questioning Bezos' influence on the editorial policy.
The Post's troubles began when Bezos decided to terminate a presidential endorsement of Kamala Harris, resulting in a significant loss of subscribers. Shipley's resignation was not the only one triggered by this op-ed move. David Maraniss, a veteran journalist and biographer who had been with the Post for over 40 years, also announced his departure on social media, stating that he does not want to be associated with the publication as long as Bezos is the owner.
Many other former and current members of the Post have shared similar sentiments, with some even severing their professional ties with the company. Cameron Barr, a former senior managing editor, expressed his disappointment with the changes and called it an erosion of the publication's commitment to diversity of opinion.
Philip Bump, the writer of the Post's "How to Read This Chart" newsletter, expressed his shock on social media just minutes after the memo was released. Economy reporter Jeff Stein also spoke out against the changes, stating that it is a significant intrusion by Bezos. He even declared that he would quit if Bezos interferes with the news side of coverage.
While CEO and publisher Will Lewis maintains that these changes are not about taking sides with any political party, he did admit that he told Bezos the op-ed decision would do more harm than good for the paper. It is clear that Bezos' decision has caused turmoil within the Post and has sparked concerns about the publication's future.
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