Washington Post employees express concern in letter to owner Jeff Bezos: 'We are deeply troubled'

On Wednesday, hundreds of Washington Post staffers wrote to owner Jeff Bezos expressing their deep concern over recent leadership decisions and the resulting departure of prominent colleagues, requesting a meeting with the billionaire to maintain the newspaper's competitive edge.

Recent leadership decisions have raised concerns about the integrity of this institution, which has a history of transparency, and have led to the departure of some distinguished colleagues, with more departures expected to follow, according to a letter obtained by Planet Chronicle Digital.

The letter stated that Bezos' decision to quash the liberal editorial board's planned endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris went beyond that particular decision and was his "prerogative."

"The letter, reportedly signed by over 400 staff members, emphasizes the importance of regaining a competitive edge, rebuilding trust that has been eroded, and reestablishing open communication with leadership. The staff urges the Post leaders to come to their office and discuss the current situation, as they have done in the past. They acknowledge the need for change and are eager to present their ideas in a new and innovative way. However, they require a clear vision that they can believe in."

In 2013, when Bezos bought the newspaper, the staffers urged him to retract his previous statements and reaffirm the paper's values. Despite being one of the wealthiest individuals in the world, Bezos had generally kept a low profile when it came to the paper's editorial choices.

The latest indication of a lack of faith by Post staffers in publisher Will Lewis, whom Bezos appointed to lead the paper a year ago, is the letter they have written expressing their dissatisfaction with his leadership.

The letter, which was leaked to NPR on Wednesday, represents an implicit vote of no confidence in Will Lewis and a call for Bezos' direct involvement, according to former Post media writer Paul Farhi, who spoke to Planet Chronicle Digital.

In recent weeks, several notable departures have occurred at The Post, including reporters Josh Dawsey, Ashley Parker, Michael Scherer, Tyler Page, and Leigh Ann Caldwell, as well as columnists Jennifer Rubin and Charles Lane, health and science editor Stephen Smith, and veteran editor Matea Gold.

In Rubin's case, she made a decision to leave Bezos and join a liberal start-up called The Contrarian.

The owners of major media outlets, including billionaires, have betrayed their audiences' trust and undermined journalism's mission to uphold democracy by defending, protecting, and advancing it. The Washington Post, owned by a billionaire and managed by enlisted personnel, is among the offenders.

"Jeff Bezos and his allies are undermining the values that underpin The Post's mission and the journalism industry as a whole, including integrity, courage, and independence. As a result, I cannot continue to work at The Post. I believe that Jeff Bezos and his allies are enabling the greatest threat to American democracy, Donald Trump, at a time when a free and vibrant press is more crucial than ever to the survival and prosperity of our democracy."

Last year, Robert Kagan and several editorial board members resigned from The Washington Post after Bezos spiked the Harris endorsement. The paper lost 250,000 subscribers due to the move, which was seen as a capitulation by Bezos to Trump before the election and a betrayal of the paper's values.

Ann Telnaes, a Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist, resigned from The Post earlier this month due to the outlet's refusal to publish her cartoon depicting Bezos groveling to Trump. Sally Buzbee, the former executive editor, left the Post last June following Lewis' restructuring of the newsroom.

Recent headlines have reported a $77 million loss in 2024 and a round of layoffs on the business side of the paper, in addition to declines in web traffic.

Earlier this month, a staffer told Planet Chronicle Digital that the company feels rudderless.

A representative from the Post did not promptly provide a comment when requested.

This report was contributed to by Gabriel Hays and Joseph A. Wulfsohn from Planet Chronicle Digital.