The Washington Post has declared it will terminate almost 100 employees, representing 4% of its workforce, to address escalating losses, as reported by media sources.
The layoffs are said to primarily impact staff on the commercial side of the renowned US newspaper owned by Amazon’s founder, Jeff Bezos.
The publication is one of numerous news organizations facing challenges in the digital era as an increasing number of online platforms vie for ad revenues.
The layoffs, which were revealed on Tuesday, occur during a period of upheaval at the company following Mr. Bezos’s break from tradition by opposing an endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris before the US presidential election in November.
In 2023, the Washington Post disclosed losses of $77 million (£45 million) and a decline in website readership. In that same year, the newspaper revealed it would provide employees voluntary buyouts in an effort to reduce staff by 10%.
Mr. Bezos penned an opinion article clarifying that preventing the endorsement was essential due to the increasing public belief that the “media is partisan.”
Nevertheless, the newspaper reported that 250,000 of its subscribers terminated their subscriptions in objection.
Since that time, numerous prominent journalists, such as investigative reporter Josh Dawsey, who announced on X that he accepted a position at The Wall Street Journal, have also departed from the newspaper. Managing editor Matea Gold is moving to rival The New York Times, as confirmed by the Times.
The visible clash between Bezos and the newspaper’s leading talent escalated on Saturday when Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist, Ann Telnaes, announced her resignation from the Washington Post.
This occurred after the newspaper declined to print a satirical cartoon depicting Mr. Bezos and other moguls kneeling before a statue of President-elect Donald Trump.
Last month, Mr. Bezos declared that Amazon would give $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund and provide a $1 million in-kind contribution. Mr. Bezos additionally characterized Trump’s re-election win as “an incredible political resurgence” and had dinner with him at the president-elect’s Mar-a-Lago home in Florida.
