The Washington Post has seen more than 75,000 digital subscription cancellations since billionaire owner Jeff Bezos announced Wednesday that the newspaper’s editorial page would focus on promoting “personal liberties and free markets.” According to sources, Opinion Editor David Shipley resigned immediately after the announcement, having unsuccessfully attempted to convince Bezos to abandon the plan.
For the second time in less than six months, The Washington Post has experienced a significant exodus of subscribers as the newspaper continues to suffer revenue issues. In October, over 300,000 digital readers canceled their subscriptions after Bezos allegedly blocked the newspaper’s editorial board from endorsing former Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential race.
Over the past two years, the newspaper has undergone several rounds of layoffs. In November 2023, The Washington Post saw over 100 employees depart through layoffs and buyouts as it struggled to retain readership. Meanwhile, Bezos indicated further layoffs will likely be necessary in January of this year. Over the course of 2024, The Washington Post lost an estimated $100 million in revenue.
According to Bezos, the shift in editorial agenda is part of a larger effort to restore public trust in the nearly 150-year-old publication. In an editorial published last October, Bezos argued: “Most people believe the media is biased. Anyone who doesn’t see this is paying scant attention to reality, and those who fight reality lose.”