Wash Po Staff Are Requesting A Meeting With Bezos
The Washington Post, a historic cornerstone of American journalism, finds itself at a critical crossroads, as over 400 staff members have penned an urgent letter to owner Jeff Bezos, calling for a direct meeting amid escalating concerns over the newspaper’s future. Signed by prominent journalists and correspondents, the letter serves as both a plea for dialogue and a stark warning about the challenges threatening the institution’s credibility, finances, and workforce stability.
The letter, sent on Tuesday evening, does not mince words. It highlights “deep alarm” over recent leadership decisions that have, in their view, undermined the paper’s integrity, disrupted its long-standing tradition of transparency, and triggered an exodus of talent.
Notably, the letter acknowledges that these concerns are not tied to Bezos’ contentious decision to end the Post’s endorsements of U.S. presidential candidates—though the fallout from that choice looms large over the paper’s current challenges.
The numbers tell a sobering story. The Post reportedly lost 250,000 subscribers—10% of its subscriber base—after ceasing its endorsements. According to the Wall Street Journal, this decision played a significant role in the publication’s $100 million loss in 2024.
Meanwhile, digital visitors to the website have plummeted from 114 million in November 2020 to just 54 million in November 2024. It’s a stark contrast to the paper’s once-unshakable digital dominance and a reflection of the broader discontent among its readership.
Adding to the turmoil, the Post recently laid off around 100 employees—approximately 4% of its workforce—a painful decision that has only deepened unrest within the newsroom. Much of the discontent appears to be directed at the company’s CEO, Will Lewis, who has faced growing scrutiny since taking the helm in November 2023.
Lewis’ decision to reorganize the newsroom prompted the resignation of Sally Buzbee, the paper’s former top editor, in June 2024. Her would-be replacement, Robert Winnett, withdrew from consideration following fierce internal backlash.
The fallout has not been limited to newsroom leadership. Several high-profile opinion staff members and contributors have also resigned, citing the paper’s decision to abandon political endorsements as a breaking point. Among them is Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Ann Telnaes, who left after her cartoon criticizing billionaires for their perceived support of Donald Trump was refused publication.
While the Post’s leadership insists that the decision to stop endorsements reflects a broader effort to reposition the paper in a hyper-partisan era, staff members argue that it has alienated readers and eroded trust. Adding fuel to the fire, the Post endorsed nearly every Trump nominee for key positions, a move that raised eyebrows and stirred further debate over its editorial direction.