The Washington Post finds itself in the midst of significant internal upheaval following several contentious decisions by the company's leadership. The turmoil began when the newspaper announced it would no longer endorse presidential candidates, prompting the resignation of several opinion staff writers. This decision, coupled with a sharp decline in digital visitors and subscriptions, has sparked concern among the publication's staff.
Since Will Lewis assumed the role of chief executive in November 2023, unrest has been brewing within the Washington Post. Under his leadership, digital visitors to the website have dropped from 114 million in November 2020 to only 54 million by November 2024. Additionally, the Post lost 250,000 subscribers, or 10% of its subscriber base, contributing to a reported $100 million loss in 2024.
The decision not to endorse presidential candidates appears to have played a substantial role in this decline. According to the Wall Street Journal, the choice led to a mass exodus of subscribers and heightened unease among staff. Pulitzer-winning cartoonist Ann Telnaes also left the paper after it refused to publish her cartoon depicting billionaires bowing to Trump, further highlighting tensions within the institution.
In June, Sally Buzbee, the top editor of the newsroom, resigned following Lewis's decision to reorganize. Her potential replacement, Robert Winnett, withdrew from consideration after facing backlash from staff. In response to these developments, over 400 Washington Post staff members sent a letter to owner Jeff Bezos on Tuesday evening, requesting a meeting to address their concerns.
The letter stated:
"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."
Acknowledging Bezos's decision as "the owner's prerogative," the letter emphasizes that the situation extends beyond the paper's endorsement stance. It insists:
"This is about retaining our competitive edge, restoring trust that has been lost, and re-establishing a relationship with leadership based on open communication."
Despite these appeals, the Post laid off roughly 100 employees just a week after the letter was sent. The cuts represent approximately 4% of the publication's staff. Staff members contend that these challenges are not directly linked to Bezos's decision on endorsements but rather reflect broader issues under current leadership.