The owner of The Washington Post, Jeff Bezos, declared a shift in the newspaper’s opinions section to advocate for “personal liberties” and “free markets.”
THe big picture: Bezos conveyed in a message to employees that the opinions section will focus on supporting these pillars, with opposing viewpoints to be published by other outlets.
- This change reflects Bezos’s belief that the internet now serves as a platform for a variety of opinions, making it unnecessary for newspapers to cover all perspectives.
- Bezos emphasized his conviction in the importance of promoting “personal liberties” and “free markets” in the United States, noting a perceived lack of representation in the current media landscape.
State of play: Following Bezos’s directive, Opinion Editor David Shipley resigned, citing a need to reflect on his future in the industry and the choices aligned with his passion.
- Bezos offered Shipley the opportunity to lead the new direction of the opinions section but respected Shipley’s decision to step away from the role.
What he’s saying: Bezos shared the following message on X:
- “I’m writing to let you know about a change coming to our opinion pages. 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.
- “There was a time when a newspaper, especially one that was a local monopoly, might have seen it as a service to bring to the reader’s doorstep every morning a broad-based opinion section that sought to cover all views. Today, the internet does that job.
- “I am of America and for America, and proud to be so. Our country did not get here by being typical. And a big part of America’s success has been freedom in the economic realm and everywhere else. Freedom is ethical — it minimizes coercion — and practical — it drives creativity, invention, and prosperity.
- “I offered David Shipley, whom I greatly admire, the opportunity to lead this new chapter. I suggested to him that if the answer wasn’t “hell yes,” then it had to be “no.” After careful consideration, David decided to step away. This is a significant shift, it won’t be easy, and it will require 100% commitment — I respect his decision. We’ll be searching for a new Opinion Editor to own this new direction.
- “I’m confident that free markets and personal liberties are right for America. I also believe these viewpoints are underserved in the current market of ideas and news opinion. I’m excited for us together to fill that void.”
