Jeff Bezos, the owner of The Washington Post, has announced a significant change to the newspaper’s opinion section. Under the new direction, the section will focus on advocating “personal liberties and free markets” instead of publishing opposing viewpoints on those topics. David Shipley, the current opinion editor, has resigned in response to the change.
In a note to Bezos, Shipley expressed his concerns about the shift, citing the Post’s ecumenical approach as unique and valuable. However, he declined an offer to stay with the newspaper if it meant compromising on its editorial stance. Bezos had suggested that if Shipley was not enthusiastic about the new direction, then he should be willing to leave.
The decision marks a major departure from the Post’s decades-long tradition of publishing a wide range of views from the left and the right. The new focus echoes what has been the informal tagline of The Wall Street Journal’s conservative opinion pages: “Free markets, free people.”
Bezos’ chief executive, Will Lewis, emphasized that the changes are not about siding with any political party but rather about being clear about what the newspaper stands for. Matt Murray, the Post’s executive editor, assured staff that the newsroom’s mission to pursue engaging journalism without fear or favor remains unchanged.
The move has already sparked public pushback from some employees and readers. Jeff Stein, a chief economics reporter, called it “massive encroachment” on the opinion staff’s ability to publish diverse viewpoints. The Post’s opinion section is now facing an uncertain future, with some well-known liberal journalists having already left the newspaper in recent months.
As the Post navigates this new direction, it remains to be seen how the changes will affect its reputation and credibility as a respected source of commentary and analysis.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/26/business/media/washington-post-bezos-shipley.html