Massive layoffs at The Washington Post, a historic newspaper that broke the Watergate scandal and whose motto is “democracy dies in darkness,” have sparked fears in the U.S. about the decline of journalism and the risks this poses to freedom of expression and institutions in the era of Trump.
Sometimes, rules are meant to be broken, and though the first rule of journalism is that journalists are never the protagonists of the news, this week, at least in Washington D.C., they were.
A video conference lasting just 12 minutes on February 4th served as the platform for Matt Murray, director of The Washington Post (TWP), to confirm to employees the rumor that had been circulating for weeks: the newspaper was restructuring its staff with a significant round of layoffs.
Whereas the exact number of positions eliminated has not been revealed, The New York Times has reported that around 300 of its 800 journalists have been laid off. Other sources indicate the cuts affect 30% of the staff.
The sports, books, and daily podcast “Post Reports” sections are disappearing. Local and international coverage, hallmarks of the newspaper, are being drastically reduced, and foreign correspondents and special envoys are being eliminated, resulting in the disappearance of the entire Middle East and Ukraine teams.
From Family Paper to Global Symbol
The Washington Post, first published on December 6, 1877, with a four-page edition costing three cents, has evolved from a local family newspaper to a national institution and a symbol of freedom of expression, not only in the U.S.
The paradigm of what it represents is undoubtedly the Watergate case, a simple local story that led to the political earthquake that shook the foundations of the White House and ended the presidency of Republican Richard Nixon in 1974.
American Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon and one of the richest men in the world, purchased the newspaper in 2013 and, in his first meeting, delivered a reassuring message to the staff, which was facing a complicated financial situation, pointing to a “new golden age.”
Following the announcement of this week’s layoffs, there has been no reaction from Bezos. His latest reflection on the state of the newspaper, from late 2024, was “we saved The Washington Post once and we will save it again.”
many voices suggest that there is more to the cuts than just a financial issue. “The destruction of the Post is part of a plan,” laments journalist Ashley Parker in an article in The Atlantic.
Marty Baron, former executive editor of The Washington Post, who has been warning for months that this could happen, accused Bezos of making “ill-conceived” decisions, such as ordering the Post not to endorse any presidential candidate in 2024, and denounced “disturbing attempts to curry favor with President Trump.”
However, not all journalists feel equally free to express their opinion.
“Don’t Murder The Post”
Last Thursday, on a cold and bright morning, amidst the remnants of the snow from the latest storm to hit the U.S. Capital, a protest took place outside the One Franklin Square building, the newspaper’s Washington headquarters.
Hundreds of people chanted slogans, carried red protest t-shirts, and banners, some with slogans like “Don´t murder The Post.”
But there was also a lot of silence. Many journalists, still on staff, refused to answer questions about the layoffs. “Understand, it’s very delicate” or “we are still working here” were some of the brief responses.
Others asked for anonymity but dared to verbalize their fears. “It’s a very sad day. This newspaper is an essential defense against terrifying changes in our politics, and culture. I believe we are on the verge of ceasing to be a free democracy and, in some cases, we have already moved to an authoritarian model,” said a journalist with decades at the paper.
Some, younger and perhaps with less to lose, offered at least their names, like Timmy, “I haven’t been fired, but I’m furious to understand that the owner of this company has the power to change things, and says nothing. I think there’s a hidden motive… Maybe something with Trump.”
Other former colleagues of The Washington Post came to this week’s protest in solidarity, such as Tom Jackman, a local section reporter for 27 years, who said what is happening “is heartbreaking.”
“We believed Bezos supported us. He said he did. We need to do journalism,” Jackman added.
Claire Tran, who worked as a social media editor at the Post for two years, also participated and denounced that “the phrase democracy dies in darkness is true and Bezos is turning off the lights. He is leaving the newspaper in the dark.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What prompted the layoffs at The Washington Post?
The Washington Post is restructuring its staff with a significant round of layoffs, though the exact number of positions eliminated has not been revealed. The New York Times reports around 300 of 800 journalists may be affected.
What sections of the newspaper were eliminated?
The sections of sports, books, and the daily podcast “Post Reports” are disappearing. The newspaper is also drastically reducing local and international coverage and eliminating its teams in the Middle East and Ukraine.
What was Jeff Bezos’s response to the layoffs?
There has been no reaction from Jeff Bezos following the announcement of the layoffs. His latest reflection on the state of the newspaper, from late 2024, was “we saved The Washington Post once and we will save it again.”
As The Washington Post navigates these changes, what role will local and international reporting play in its future, and how might this impact its ability to fulfill its mission of informing the public?
