Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is revamping the opinion section of The Washington Post, focusing on supporting personal liberties and free markets. The move marks a significant shift away from broad opinion coverage and has prompted the resignation of opinion editor David Shipley. According to Bezos’ memo, the section will now exclusively cover topics in support of these pillars, with opposing viewpoints left to be published elsewhere.
Bezos cited the internet as a reason for this change, stating that it already provides a diverse range of opinions. The billionaire businessman acknowledged that this shift would not be easy and required “100% commitment” from staff. This decision is part of Bezos’ broader intervention in the editorial side of the newspaper, following last year’s decision not to endorse Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris.
The move has been praised by some, including Elon Musk, but also criticized by others who are canceling their subscriptions. The Washington Post CEO Will Lewis emphasized that this change is about being clear on what the newspaper stands for, rather than taking a specific political stance.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5y44gw5gpro