Washington Post has descended into a dark abyss - here’s why

NY Post ^ | 11/22/24 | Charles Gasparino

[Libloather]

The Washington Post used to be one of the best gigs in journalism. No longer.

In a business where it generally sucks to be an employee (except for the NY Post, of course), the “WaPo,” as it is known in journalism circles, has really descended into the abyss, On The Money has learned.

Top reporters want out of what they see as crappy new work conditions and possibly more layoffs coming.

It’s a shame, of course. The paper and its journalists — think Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein and their dogged pursuit of Watergate — set the gold standard for reporting. They are the reason so many went into the business, including yours truly.

Sure, Woodward remains at the paper, as do many amazing reporters. But the decline of print as a viable business model, plus the leftward lurch of a new generation of ink-stained wretches that turns off readers, has decimated readership — and the paper’s balance sheet.

The Post changed hands years ago from the Graham family to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. He’s one of the world’s richest men, but he hates losing money, people who know him tell On The Money. That includes the tens of millions a year he’s sinking into the paper.

Bezos brought in new management this year like publisher Will Lewis, a WSJ alum (the WSJ and the NY Post share common ownership), to de-woke the place and help it at the very least break even. But it’s either not working or not working well enough to satisfy Bezos’ desire to stop throwing good money after bad, people close to him say.

That’s why in addition to financial discipline (some recent layoffs, and possibly more in the future), Lewis is demanding some personal discipline as well.

[Tommy Revolts]

...to de-woke the place

That's not going to be easy. You can't just flip a switch, it's too embedded.

[Mean Daddy]

Warren Buffett bought the Omaha World Herald and after a couple years, sold it.

[quilterdebbie]

Truth!