OVER 400 WASHINGTON POST STAFF MEMBERS ASK FOR MEETING WITH JEFF BEZOS OVER FUTURE OF THE NEWSPAPER
A letter signed by over 400 Washington Post staff members, including top journalists and correspondents, was sent to owner Jeff Bezos on Tuesday evening, pleading for a meeting with him during a time of widespread concern about the future of the newspaper.
The letter expresses alarm over recent leadership decisions that have led readers to question the integrity of the institution, broken with a tradition of transparency, and prompted some of the most distinguished colleagues to leave, with more departures imminent. The writers claim that their concerns are unrelated to Bezos’ recent decision to end its endorsement of US presidential candidates, which they acknowledge as “the owner’s prerogative.”
The letter calls for Bezos to meet in person with leaders at the office to address issues such as retaining the newspaper’s competitive edge, restoring trust, and re-establishing a relationship with leadership based on open communication. The writers point out that the newspaper’s recent losses of 250,000 subscribers, or 10% of its subscription base, and a massive $100m loss in 2024 are a direct result of its leadership decisions.
The plea comes on the heels of the newspaper laying off roughly 100 employees last week, amounting to 4% of the publication’s staff. The company’s chief executive, Will Lewis, has been at the center of unease among staffers since he took his position in November 2023.
Several opinion staff writers have resigned following the announcement that the Post would no longer endorse presidential candidates. Ann Telnaes, a Pulitzer-winning cartoonist, quit the paper after it refused to print her cartoon depicting billionaires bowing to Trump. The Post endorsed every Trump nominee for confirmation, except for a few instances.