Despite the recent turmoil at the Washington Post, its owner, Jeff Bezos, remains steadfast in his commitment to the publication. This assurance comes from the Post's top editor, Matt Murray, who spoke to CNN amidst the brutal layoffs that affected hundreds of employees on Wednesday.
Murray emphasized that Bezos envisions the Post as a thriving, relevant institution. However, many journalists at the Post are skeptical, believing that growth cannot be achieved through cuts alone. In fact, roughly a third of the staff, including over 300 newsroom employees, were laid off, intensifying scrutiny on Bezos and raising questions about the future of the publication.
The severe cutbacks have left many Post journalists wondering if Bezos will sell the publication, with some even hoping for such an outcome. The Post Guild, in a statement, expressed the sentiment that if Bezos is no longer willing to invest in the Post's mission, it deserves a steward who will.
Bezos has not publicly commented on his current vision for the Post, but sources indicate that he has privately urged management to reverse the newspaper's annual losses and find a sustainable path forward. In a phone interview, Murray was cautious about discussing his conversations with Bezos but emphasized that Bezos supports the idea of reinvention.
"Jeff is nothing but supportive of getting the house in order and being positioned for growth," Murray said. He added that Bezos understands the needs and imperatives of the Post's journalism and does not interfere in its news mandate, a quality Murray values in an owner.
Post employees, who have been organizing online with the hashtag #SaveThePost, are concerned about the future of the publication. Interestingly, Murray pointed out that the phrase "save the Post" was first uttered by Bezos himself at the end of 2024, when he spoke at The New York Times' DealBook conference.
Murray, who was appointed executive editor around that time, has become the public face of the layoffs, leading some to question the absence of publisher and CEO Will Lewis. Two years ago, Bezos personally appointed Lewis to turn the Post's fortunes around, but employees feel there has been little progress.
In his defense, Murray stated that Lewis has been working on alternative revenue sources and developing AI and product technology. He also credited Lewis with improving the Post's digital subscription business.
However, the Post has lost hundreds of thousands of subscribers since Bezos' decision to nix a planned editorial page endorsement of Kamala Harris in late 2024. Subsequent changes to the opinion section have raised concerns about Bezos using the Post to curry favor with President Donald Trump, potentially benefiting his other businesses, Amazon and Blue Origin.
Murray, along with other staffers, urged people to focus on the Post's daily content, emphasizing that the newsroom's job is to report on Trump aggressively and without bias. "We're continuing to do that, and our staff is producing great work, breaking a lot of scoops," he said.
When asked about the Post's coverage of Amazon, given that its Amazon beat reporter was laid off, Murray affirmed that technology remains important to the Post. He acknowledged the difficulty of the decisions made that day, indicating that some cuts were for short-term stabilization, not a permanent reduction in ambitions.
Murray sidestepped questions about his own resignation, stating his desire to see if he can guide the Post to a better place. "The Post is an important institution that should survive and thrive," he concluded.
