Hundreds of Washington Post staffers signed a letter to owner Jeff Bezos, urging him to meet with newsroom leaders amid a confidence crisis. The letter highlights concerns over recent leadership decisions, which have led to trust being lost among readers and some colleagues leaving the institution. Staffers believe Bezos is aligned with their mission but feel that more open communication is needed.
The issues stem from Lewis’ sweeping plans to divide the editorial side into three newsrooms, each with a different editor. This decision was met with skepticism and led to an internal meltdown over an aborted plan to appoint Robert Winnett as editor of the main newsroom. Recently, top newsroom stars have defected to rival publications.
The Post is facing serious competition, with mounting anxiety threatening its reputation ahead of President-elect Trump’s historic second term. The paper is scrambling to find a new executive editor amid shrinking paid readership and revenue. Publisher Will Lewis’ vision for the future has not impressed candidates, leading some to withdraw from consideration for the top newsroom job.
The crisis highlights a broader trend of billionaire media owners facing backlash from their newsrooms. Journalists say they’re pandering to power by meddling with important work, particularly in light of President-elect Trump’s victory, which has prompted wealthy executives to reconsider their resistance to the MAGA movement.
Source: https://www.axios.com/2025/01/16/washington-post-jeff-bezos-staff-letter