The emblematic newspaper The Washington Post is dealing with the first consequences of its owner, Jeff Bezos, deciding to block support for a candidate in the next United States presidential elections. It is about the massive cancellation of subscriptions and resignations of some workers.
As of midday Monday, more than 200,000 people have canceled their digital subscriptionsaccording to internal sources NPR. The figure, which increased on Monday afternoon and could continue to grow, represents 8% of its 2.5 million subscribers, which also includes the printed version of the newspaper.
The loss of readers represents a hard blow for the company that is already going through some financial problems. His decision not to take a position ad porta the elections, however, is not the first that has occurred in recent weeks: The Los Angeles Times did the same, causing thousands of subscribers to flee.
The Post’s opinion section already had written a text supporting Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, who will compete alongside Republican candidate Donald Trump on November 5.
According to NPR, Opinion editor David Shipley assured other workers that the document had been approved by him but had yet to be reviewed by Bezos, who has owned the Post since 2013.
In the past, the Post had a tradition of not endorsing any candidate. The first exception was in 1952, when they asked their readers to vote for Dwift Eisenhower. Then, in 1976, they showed their stance in favor of Jimmy Carter.
Since then they had respected their new custom. In the most recent elections they had gone for the Democratic options, Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden, against Trump.
That practice, which lasted four decades, ended on Friday of last week, when the Post’s executive director and publisher, William Lewis, said in an article what Not showing endorsements in this year’s presidential race and in future ones represented a return to the roots of the media that describes itself as “independent.”.
Donald Trump y Kamala Harris.
“We recognize that this will be interpreted in a variety of ways, including a tacit endorsement of one candidate, a condemnation of another, or an abdication of responsibility. That’s inevitable. We don’t see it that way.”they described.
According The New York TimesBezos’ decision had been brewing for several weeks, although it is still not entirely clear what influenced it.
The argument that the Post wants to return to its roots has failed to convince members of the editorial staff, readers and other figures closely linked to the Post, who mostly reacted negatively.
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One of them is the newspaper’s former executive director, Marty Baron, who said the decision was “cowardly.”
“Donald Trump will see this as an invitation to intimidate Post owner Jeff Bezos (and other media owners). “The lack of character of an institution famous for its bravery is worrying.”Baron said.
Meanwhile, the Post Union detailed through X (formerly Twitter) that they were concerned about management intervention in the work of the editorial board. “This decision undermines the work of our members at a time when we should be building the trust of our readers, not losing it,” they added.
There have also been several resignations in the newspaper’s editorial board, made up of 10 members and which is part of the Opinion section. It is about David E. Hoffman, Molly Roberts y Mili Mitrawho indicated that although they would leave the council, they intend to continue at the newspaper.
“It is extremely difficult for us because we built this institution,” Hoffman said in an interview with the same medium. “But we cannot give up our American democracy or The Post,” added the journalist who has won two Pulitzer Prizes.
Jeff Bezos, owner of The Washington Post. Photo: Reuters/Clodagh Kilcoyne.
Meanwhile, Robert Kagan, the former managing editor, resigned from the paper following Lewis’ announcement. “We are kneeling before Donald Trump because we are afraid of what he will do”he told CNN.
Columnist Michelle Morris also said she would leave the outlet, describing the change as “an insult to the newspaper’s standards.”
Bezos, who also owns Amazon, decided to break his silence on Monday, when in a opinion article He presented the reasons for his decision.
“Most people believe the media is biased. Those who do not see it are paying little attention to reality, and those who fight against reality lose. “Reality is an undefeated champion,” he wrote.
From the businessman’s point of view, showing support for a candidacy does not influence “to tip the balance of an election” and that undecided voters do not base their final decision on one means.
“I would also like to make it clear that there is no type of compensation in this case. Neither the campaign nor the candidate were consulted or informed at any level or in any way about this decision. It was taken completely internally”, he stressed.
