Hundreds Of Washington Post Staffers Sign Letter to Jeff Bezos -- Pleading With Him to Restore 'Trust That Has Been Lost'
Source: MEDIAite
Jan 15th, 2025, 11:12 am
Over 400 Washington Post journalists sent a scathing letter on Wednesday to Amazon founder and Post owner Jeff Bezos urging him to come meet with the paper’s leadership and make a course correction as they fear readers now “question the integrity of this institution.”
The letter comes in the wake of Bezos intervening to stop the Post from endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election. A quarter million subscribers canceled their subscriptions in the wake of the move, which also prompted editorial board members to resign in protest. In recent weeks, Bezos has cozied up to President-elect Donald Trump with a donation to his inauguration and top talent has been leaving the paper en masse.
“You recently wrote that ensuring the long-term success and editorial independence of this newspaper is essential. We agree, and we believe you take as much pride in The Washington Post as we do,” began the letter, which was reportedly signed by such heavyweights at the paper as Dan Balz, Pooh Shapiro, and Carol Leonnig.
“We are deeply alarmed by recent leadership decisions that have led readers to question the integrity of this institution, broken with a tradition of transparency, and prompted some of our most distinguished colleagues to leave, with more departures imminent. This goes far beyond the issue of the presidential endorsement, which we recognize as the owner’s prerogative.
Read more: https://www.mediaite.com/news/hundreds-of-washington-post-staffers-sign-letter-to-jeff-bezos-pleading-with-him-to-restore-trust-that-has-been-lost/
Below from the OP article -
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Here's the letter, which was signed by Post stalwarts like Dan Balz, Pooh Shapiro and Carol Leonnig:
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David Folkenflik
@davidfolkenflik
NEWS: More than 400 Washington Post journalists - including some of its most distinguished reporters & editors - have sent plea to owner Jeff Bezos to intervene at the paper.
While not citing CEO Will Lewis by name, it casts a harsh light on his leadership./more
10:05 AM · Jan 15, 2025
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spooky3
(36,899 posts)to uphold the high standards there, and most are not paid superstar salaries, I'm sure. It's got to be painful to see the descent from the Watergate era.
UpInArms
(52,068 posts)It is apparent.
wolfie001
(4,029 posts)Just kidding
S/V Loner
(9,210 posts)what they are looking for is some little statement from Besos that will convince themselves that they made the right decision to stay. All the truly honest journalist have already left.
Autumn
(47,234 posts)I would rot in ignorance before I would click on the WP.
Prairie Gates
(4,019 posts)It's over. It's a Bezos/Billionaire house organ and propaganda mill.
jvill
(459 posts)Mawspam2
(891 posts)Sell it to Elon and be done with it since you're doing his work for him.
Joinfortmill
(17,158 posts)Lulu KC
(6,581 posts)Did anyone else notice Carolyn Hax on the list?