Bezos Restructures Washington Post Following Endorsement Controversy

Jeff Bezos implements structural changes at The Washington Post amid backlash over the decision not to endorse Kamala Harris, sparking internal turmoil and subscriber loss.

At a Glance

Bezos ordered the halt of presidential endorsements to maintain the Post’s reputation amid declining trust in media.
The decision led to internal protests, resignations, and a loss of over 200,000 digital subscribers.
Will Lewis was appointed as CEO to implement a reorganization plan, including a “third newsroom” focused on new editorial products.
Executive editor Sally Buzbee resigned following the reorganization decision, causing unrest in the newsroom.
The Washington Post is experiencing financial difficulties, losing $77 million over the past year.

Bezos Defends Decision to End Presidential Endorsements

Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon and owner of The Washington Post, has broken his silence on the controversial decision to end presidential endorsements at the newspaper. The move, which reportedly came after the Post’s editorial board had prepared an endorsement for Vice President Kamala Harris, has sparked widespread debate and internal turmoil at the publication.

Bezos defended the decision, emphasizing that it was made to maintain the Post’s reputation amid declining trust in media. He argued that presidential endorsements create a perception of bias and non-independence, stating, “What presidential endorsements actually do is create a perception of bias. A perception of non-independence. Ending them is a principled decision, and it’s the right one.”

Jeff Bezos killed Washington Post endorsement of Kamala Harris, paper reports https://t.co/oDZt9GGOzp

— CNBC (@CNBC) October 25, 2024

Internal Upheaval and Subscriber Loss

The decision to halt presidential endorsements has had significant repercussions within The Washington Post. Reports indicate that the move led to internal protests, resignations from the editorial board, and a substantial loss of over 200,000 digital subscribers. This exodus of readers has further compounded the financial challenges facing the newspaper, which has reportedly lost $77 million over the past year.

The internal unrest has been exacerbated by a series of structural changes implemented by Bezos. Will Lewis was appointed as the paper’s CEO and tasked with steering the organization through these turbulent times. However, his appointment and subsequent actions have not been without controversy.

Reorganization and Leadership Changes

A key element of the structural changes is the introduction of a “third newsroom” aimed at reinforcing the commitment to objective journalism and distancing from traditional endorsements. This decision has triggered significant internal challenges, including the abrupt resignation of executive editor Sally Buzbee.

Following Buzbee’s departure, former Wall Street Journal editor Matt Murray temporarily took control of the newsroom. However, reports suggest that Murray’s leadership approach has been met with dissatisfaction among staff members. The search for a permanent top newsroom leader is ongoing, with candidates including managing editor Matea Gold being considered.

Jeff Bezos killed the Washington Post endorsement of Kamala Harris not its reporters or editors. Canceling your subscription only hurts them. https://t.co/Ah2wImaxZb

— Maria Cramer (@NYTimesCramer) October 26, 2024

Bezos’ Continued Influence

Despite the controversy surrounding these changes, Jeff Bezos remains steadfast in his support for the shift towards nonpartisan reporting. He continues to play a central role in shaping The Post’s direction, even as he focuses more on other projects like Blue Origin. Bezos, who bought The Washington Post for $250 million over a decade ago, remains its most influential figure.

“Every day, somewhere, some Amazon executive or Blue Origin executive or someone from the other philanthropies and companies I own or invest in is meeting with government officials. I once wrote that The Post is a ‘complexifier’ for me. It is, but it turns out I’m also a complexifier for The Post.” said Jeff Bezos.

As The Washington Post navigates these challenging times, the future of the storied newspaper remains uncertain. The structural changes implemented by Bezos and his team aim to address the financial burdens and organizational dissatisfaction, but their long-term impact on the publication’s credibility and subscriber base is yet to be seen.