Opinion | Washington Post staffers to Jeff Bezos: We need your help

400 employees send plea to billionaire owner about leadership concerns

Things have gotten bad enough at The Washington Post that more than 400 staff members have sent a letter to owner Jeff Bezos, asking him to get personally involved to turn the paper back in the right direction.Bottom line: Post staffers are not pleased with the direction of the paper, its current reputation among readers, the loss of staff, and they are placing the blame on those currently running the Post.

Some of the Post’s biggest names were among the reporters and editors who signed the letter. While no one is mentioned or blamed by name, the staffers expressed disappointment in “leadership.” You would have to think includes publisher and CEO Will Lewis, although, again, no names were mentioned.

The New York Times’ Benjamin Mullin wrote, “The company’s chief executive, Will Lewis, has been the focus of widening discontent at The Post for months.”

The letter said, in part, “We are deeply alarmed by recent leadership decisions that have led readers to question the integrity of this institution, broken with a tradition of transparency and prompted some of our most distinguished colleagues to leave, with more departures imminent.”

The Post’s reputation, as well as Bezos’ standing in journalism, has taken a major credibility hit since right before the election. Bezos infamously killed the editorial board’s planned endorsement of Kamala Harris for president. Since then, the Post has lost several high-profile staffers to places such as The New York Times and The Atlantic, and there’s buzz in the media world that more departures are on the way. The Post, according to NPR’s David Folkenflik, also has lost 300,000 digital subscriptions since the nixed presidential endorsement.

The staffers said in the letter that the issues go “far beyond the presidential endorsement, which we recognize as the owner’s prerogative. This is about retaining our competitive edge, restoring trust that has been lost, and reestablishing a relationship with leadership based on open communication.”

The letter then urged Bezos to come to the newsroom and meet with Post leaders.

Tick tock on TikTok

The Supreme Court still hasn’t ruled on TikTok after hearing its case last week. TikTok is trying to halt a law that says it must be divested from its Chinese owners by Sunday or, essentially, be banned in the U.S.

There is some hope from TikTok that the Supreme Court will grant an emergency appeal, or somehow push back the deadline so that Donald Trump’s administration can take a closer look at the social media platform. But based on the questions justices asked in last week’s hearing, they seem likely to side with lawmakers who are concerned about national security. The U.S. government fears the Chinese government could force ByteDance, the owners of TikTok, to hand over data that would compromise U.S. users.

What happens if the ban does go into effect? Well, on Wednesday, Reuters reported that “TikTok plans to shut its app for U.S. users from Sunday, when a federal ban on the social media app could come into effect, unless the Supreme Court moves to block it.”

Reuters added, “The outcome of the shutdown would be different from that mandated by the law. The law would mandate a ban only on new TikTok downloads on Apple or Google app stores, while existing users could continue using it for some time. Under TikTok’s plan, people attempting to open the app will see a pop-up message directing them to a website with information about the ban, the people said, requesting anonymity as the matter is not public.

OpenAI helps Axios expand

Axios is expanding to four more cities with the help of AI.

As part of a three-year deal, OpenAI will fund Axios’ expansion into Kansas City; Pittsburgh; Boulder, Colorado; and Huntsville, Alabama.

Axios’ Sara Fischer writes, “It’s the first time OpenAI is funding newsrooms as a part of a publisher deal, although the idea isn’t novel. Google struck a deal with McClatchy to fund the creation of three digital-only local newsrooms in 2019.”

In a memo to staff, Axios leadership said AI won’t be used to report stories, “but to help build a system for creation, distribution, and monetization of our journalism.”

Fischer wrote, “ChatGPT will use Axios journalism to answer user queries with attributed summaries, quotes and links to Axios stories. Axios can access OpenAI’s technology to build its own AI products, processes, and systems.”

With the expansion of the four new cities, Axios will be publishing local newsletters in 34 cities.

NewsNation’s new lineup

Last month, Dan Abrams announced he was ending his primetime show on NewsNation in February. On Wednesday, the cable news network announced plans to replace his show.

Leland Vittert, who has been hosting a show at 7 p.m., is moving to Abrams’ 9 p.m. spot. Elizabeth Vargas will then move into the 7 p.m. spot. Vargas, who has signed a new multi-year deal with the network, had been anchoring at 5 p.m.

Michael Corn, president of programming and specials, said in a statement,  “We’re extremely happy to be bringing Leland and Elizabeth to our primetime line-up. They are extraordinary and experienced journalists who are fearless, smart, and curious. They have travelled the globe to deliver the news, and they have each developed a loyal and growing audience here at NewsNation.”

 The changes will take place on Feb. 10. Abrams, who first started hosting his show in 2021, will remain with the network. But with so many other gigs, he told viewers, “I’ve reached a point where it is just become impossible to keep devoting the time needed for this show while also running and growing my other businesses. … ”

An optimistic survey on 2025 digital revenue growth

For this item, I turn it over to Poynter media business analyst Rick Edmonds.

The Local Media Consortium published a survey Wednesday finding executives surprisingly positive on revenue prospects this year. Sampling its own client base and some other respondents, the consultancy found 68% expecting digital revenue to increase over 2024’s results and another 15% to at least stay even. Growing digital audience and digital ad revenue were top priorities in 2025 for the group. 

The consortium surveyed 3,000 executives in its member companies in late September and early October, budget season when companies typically begin to estimate the potential for growth the following year. Survey respondents were self-selected. So this isn’t a scientific sampling but indicative nonetheless – maybe times are not quite as tough as reports of big staff cuts at outlets like the Washington Post, CNN and Vox would imply.

The consortium works with its 150 members on revenue strategies and digital partnerships with the big tech firms. Newspapers are the largest group of members and accounted for about two-thirds of survey responses but local broadcast chains are well represented too.

More notable journalism from coverage of the Los Angeles fires

• The above photo is part of this compelling package from The Associated Press photographers. It’s Peter Prengaman and Alyssa Goodman with “The eye behind the lens: AP photographers on pictures capturing horror and emotions of LA fires.”
• The Los Angeles Times’ Paul Pringle, Alene Tchekmedyian and Dakota Smith with “L.A. fire officials could have put engines in the Palisades before the fire broke out. They didn’t.”
• The New York Times’ Mira Rojanasakul and Brad Plumer with “More Americans Than Ever Are Living in Wildfire Areas. L.A. Is No Exception.”
• For CNN, Blake Ellis, Melanie Hicken, Kyung Lah and Anna-Maja Rappard with “‘Beyond the brink’: Data shows LA Fire Department among the most understaffed in America.”
• Also from CNN, Dakin Andone with “Why some structures may have withstood the Los Angeles area wildfires — while those next door burned to the ground.”
• The Wall Street Journal’s Sean McLain, Dan Frosch and Joe Flint with “The Armed Homeowners Defying the Rules of L.A.’s Burn Zones.”

Media tidbits

• New York Times’ opinion columnist Zeynep Tufekci with “Zuckerberg’s Macho Posturing Looks a Lot Like Cowardice.”
• Wired’s Kate Knibbs with “That Sports News Story You Clicked on Could Be AI Slop.”
• Also from Wired, Paresh Dave with “Not Many Meta Employees Will Have to Move to Texas After All.”

Hot type

A major investigation from The Washington Post. The story by Ian Shapira with videos by Reshma Kirpalani: “Minister accused of sex abuse landed one high-profile job after another.”

Have feedback or a tip? Email Poynter senior media writer Tom Jones at tjones@poynter.org.

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