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BumRushDaShow

(146,954 posts)
Wed Jan 15, 2025, 01:29 PM Jan 15

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 -




Ben Mullin
@BenMullin
·
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Here's the letter, which was signed by Post stalwarts like Dan Balz, Pooh Shapiro and Carol Leonnig:
Image
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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Hundreds Of Washington Post Staffers Sign Letter to Jeff Bezos -- Pleading With Him to Restore 'Trust That Has Been Lost' (Original Post) BumRushDaShow Jan 15 OP
I feel so sorry for the WaPo staffers. Most have worked hard for years spooky3 Jan 15 #1
He does not care UpInArms Jan 15 #2
I wonder how he'll respond? wolfie001 Jan 15 #3
Hogwash... S/V Loner Jan 15 #4
Good job. Kneel down and beg your wealthy master. Autumn Jan 15 #5
You cannot do ethical journalism at the Washington Post Prairie Gates Jan 15 #6
Unless the letter came with $50B in g'ment contracts attached, Bezos couldn't give a whit. jvill Jan 15 #7
Tell Bezos to sell the paper to someone else as his other businesses and news are incompatible. Mawspam2 Jan 15 #8
He wont. He's not the bookseller who started Amazon. He's morally corrupted. Joinfortmill Jan 15 #9
I don't click Twitter Lulu KC Jan 15 #10

spooky3

(36,899 posts)
1. I feel so sorry for the WaPo staffers. Most have worked hard for years
Wed Jan 15, 2025, 01:38 PM
Jan 15

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.

S/V Loner

(9,210 posts)
4. Hogwash...
Wed Jan 15, 2025, 01:43 PM
Jan 15

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.

Prairie Gates

(4,019 posts)
6. You cannot do ethical journalism at the Washington Post
Wed Jan 15, 2025, 02:11 PM
Jan 15

It's over. It's a Bezos/Billionaire house organ and propaganda mill.

Mawspam2

(891 posts)
8. Tell Bezos to sell the paper to someone else as his other businesses and news are incompatible.
Wed Jan 15, 2025, 02:22 PM
Jan 15

Sell it to Elon and be done with it since you're doing his work for him.

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