Multiple journalists were outraged after Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos announced on Wednesday that the newspaper’s opinion section editor was stepping down as Bezos pushes for more takes defending “personal liberties and free markets.”
Bezos told the Post’s staff in an email, “We are going to be writing every day in support and defense of two pillars: personal liberties and free markets. We’ll cover other topics too of course, but viewpoints opposing those pillars will be left to be published by others.”
Jeff Stein, the chief economics reporter for the Post, responded to Bezos’ move, calling it a “massive encroachment” and claiming that it “makes clear dissenting views will not be published or tolerated there.”
“I still have not felt encroachment on my journalism on the news side of coverage, but if Bezos tries interfering with the news side I will be quitting immediately and letting you know,” Stein added.
Columnist Philip Bump, a constant critic of President Donald Trump and Republicans, responded to the news, writing, “What the actual f***,” CNN’s Hadas Gold reported.
Washington Post White House reporter Cat Zakrzewski wrote on X, “Jeff Bezos announced that the Washington Post opinion page will no longer publish viewpoints opposing personal liberties and free markets. In light of this news, I want to emphasize that there is a strong firewall between opinion and news at our publication.”
Reporters outside of the Post also slammed Bezos. Deputy Tech Editor at NBC News, Ben Goggins, wrote, “If it wasn’t clear that Jeff Bezos wanted a personal mouthpiece with the Washington Post before, it sure is now.”
POLITICO reporter Ben Jacobs quipped that the move puts the Post more in line with The Wall Street Journal than with The New York Times. “BROKE: The Washington Post is aspiring to be just like the New York Times. WOKE: The Washington Post is aspiring to be just like the Wall Street Journal,” Jacobs wrote.
Bezos said he offered David Shipley, the current editorial page editor, the opportunity to remain in charge of the opinion section, but only if he was 100% on board with the new direction. Shipley, however, “decided to step away.”
“This is a significant shift, it won’t be easy, and it will require 100% commitment — I respect his decision,” Bezos added. “We’ll be searching for a new Opinion Editor to own this new direction.”
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[[{“value”:”
Multiple journalists were outraged after Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos announced on Wednesday that the newspaper’s opinion section editor was stepping down as Bezos pushes for more takes defending “personal liberties and free markets.”
Bezos told the Post’s staff in an email, “We are going to be writing every day in support and defense of two pillars: personal liberties and free markets. We’ll cover other topics too of course, but viewpoints opposing those pillars will be left to be published by others.”
Jeff Stein, the chief economics reporter for the Post, responded to Bezos’ move, calling it a “massive encroachment” and claiming that it “makes clear dissenting views will not be published or tolerated there.”
“I still have not felt encroachment on my journalism on the news side of coverage, but if Bezos tries interfering with the news side I will be quitting immediately and letting you know,” Stein added.
Columnist Philip Bump, a constant critic of President Donald Trump and Republicans, responded to the news, writing, “What the actual f***,” CNN’s Hadas Gold reported.
Washington Post White House reporter Cat Zakrzewski wrote on X, “Jeff Bezos announced that the Washington Post opinion page will no longer publish viewpoints opposing personal liberties and free markets. In light of this news, I want to emphasize that there is a strong firewall between opinion and news at our publication.”
Reporters outside of the Post also slammed Bezos. Deputy Tech Editor at NBC News, Ben Goggins, wrote, “If it wasn’t clear that Jeff Bezos wanted a personal mouthpiece with the Washington Post before, it sure is now.”
POLITICO reporter Ben Jacobs quipped that the move puts the Post more in line with The Wall Street Journal than with The New York Times. “BROKE: The Washington Post is aspiring to be just like the New York Times. WOKE: The Washington Post is aspiring to be just like the Wall Street Journal,” Jacobs wrote.
Bezos said he offered David Shipley, the current editorial page editor, the opportunity to remain in charge of the opinion section, but only if he was 100% on board with the new direction. Shipley, however, “decided to step away.”
“This is a significant shift, it won’t be easy, and it will require 100% commitment — I respect his decision,” Bezos added. “We’ll be searching for a new Opinion Editor to own this new direction.”
“}]]
