More than 75,000 digital subscribers have reportedly canceled their Washington Post subscriptions following owner Jeff Bezos’s announcement that the paper’s opinion section would be restructured to align with libertarian principles.
Bezos, the billionaire founder of Amazon, outlined the editorial shift on Wednesday, stating that the opinion section would focus on “personal liberties and free markets” while limiting opposing viewpoints.
The decision led to the immediate resignation of Opinions Editor David Shipley, who had unsuccessfully attempted to dissuade Bezos from making the changes, according to a source familiar with the matter. Shipley has not publicly commented on the situation.
The Washington Post has faced significant subscription losses since October, when Bezos reportedly halted an editorial board endorsement of Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris.
Between that decision and Election Day, over 300,000 digital subscribers canceled their memberships, representing more than 12% of the paper’s online readership, according to NPR.
While the Post has gained approximately 400,000 new subscribers—many at discounted rates—internal sources suggest that, without the editorial overhaul, the paper’s subscriber count would be significantly higher.
The Washington Post has not publicly commented on the reported subscription losses.
The decision to revamp the opinion section has drawn criticism from current and former Washington Post journalists. Marty Baron, former executive editor, described Bezos’ move as “craven” in an interview with Zeteo News.
Associate Editor David Maraniss also voiced concerns about the shift in editorial direction.
Under Bezos’ ownership, the Washington Post adopted the slogan “Democracy Dies in Darkness,” positioning itself as a defender of investigative journalism.
The opinion section previously warned against a second Trump presidency, arguing it could irreparably damage American democracy.
Bezos defended his decision in a memo to staff, stating that newspapers no longer need to maintain broad-based opinion sections covering all perspectives.
“We’ll cover other topics too, of course, but viewpoints opposing those pillars will be left to be published by others,” he wrote in a message posted on X.
The shift has also raised concerns among newsroom staff.
Executive Editor Matt Murray reassured senior editors that Bezos had not indicated any intention to interfere with news coverage, which remains separate from the opinion section.
In a memo, Murray urged reporters to continue their work “without fear or favor.”
Bezos has framed his editorial changes as an effort to restore public trust, arguing that “most people believe the media is biased.”
He acknowledged that his business interests—including Amazon and aerospace company Blue Origin, which have lucrative government contracts—could complicate perceptions of his motivations.
Since the announcement, skepticism has grown within the newsroom. In January, Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Ann Telnaes resigned after a rejected cartoon criticized Bezos and other media executives’ relationship with Trump.
This decision, along with Shipley’s departure, led to another wave of subscription cancellations, numbering in the thousands.
Meanwhile, rival publications have capitalized on the controversy.
The Guardian issued a fundraising appeal emphasizing its independence from billionaire ownership. At the same time, The New York Times announced David Leonhardt as its new editorial director, reinforcing its commitment to “insight, discernment, and leadership.”
As the Washington Post navigates this editorial transition, questions remain about its long-term subscriber base and credibility in an evolving media landscape.