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Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos is arranging the newspaper’s thought section to focus more closely on two topics – personal freedoms and free markets – in the most comprehensive interference on its editorial pages by US technology billionaire.
Bezos said that thoughts of thought David Shipley had chosen to stay as a result of the shock of the winning section of the awards section, in an email for staff posted on social media on Wednesday.
Shipley was given the opportunity to remain as the section editor, said Bezos, but the founder of Amazon had “suggested that if the answer was not” hell yes “, then it was” no “. After careful review, David decided to leave. “
In email, Bezos said the newspaper would write “every day in support and protection of two pillars: personal freedoms and free markets. others. “
He said there was a time when a newspaper, “especially what was a local monopoly, could have seen it as a service to bring to the reader’s threshold every morning a wide -based opinion section required to cover all views .
Bezos was until last year seeing as a mainly owner of the Washington Post’s hands, which he won in August 2013 for $ 250 million. But his decision to prevent the newspaper from adopting a US presidential candidate last year prompted a major reaction from readers.
The decision not to execute a part of the thought that Kamala Harris, which was drafted by the editorial writers of the mail, was seen by media commentators as an attempt to join Donald Trump before the election – or at least protect the bets. his.
However, the technology billionaire defended his position in a subsequent editorial. He said the adoption of the newspaper did not carry more weight, and that there was no “no Quid Pro Quo of any kind” included in the decision.
He added that while the chief executive of his space company Blue Origin had met Trump on the same day the post announced his decision not to approve a candidate, there was no “link” between her and the mass.
He added: “I challenge you to find a case in those 11 years where I have dominated anyone in the post in favor of my interests. It has not happened.”
The newspaper increased subscribers during the Trump’s first administration. But while the readers enjoyed her harsh coverage of Trump, the tensions came between Bezos and the president, who labeled the Amazon Washington Post newspaper.
In a tweet in 2018, Trump suggested that the ownership of Bezo’s work was “protection” against an antitrust lawsuit. He also claimed Amazon was “leaving with murder, wise from taxes”.
Intervention in the post comments section marks a turning point in the inclusion of Bezo in one of the most stored newspapers in the US, with his email signaling that he was after change in the direction.
“I am of America and for America and proud to be like that,” Bezos said. “I am sure that free markets and personal freedoms are suitable for America. I also believe that these views are undeserved in the current market of ideas and news opinion. “
In a special email to the staff, Will Lewis, who was appointed publisher and chief executive by Bezos in 2023, said the measure had nothing to do with a side wall with any political party. “
Washington Post reporters responded angrily to the move. Jeff Stein, the leading economy reporter for the newspaper, described it on social media as “Massive violation by Jeff Bezos in the Washington Post section today – makes clear opposing views will not be published or tolerated there.”
He said this was not felt on the “side of the cover news, but if Bezos tries to interfere with the news side, I will leave immediately and let you know.” Elon Musk, posting on X, said, “Bravo, @jeffbezos”.
