Can Jeff Bezos Turn The Tide For The Washington Post?
When Jeff Bezos purchased The Washington Post in 2013, he envisioned transforming it into a global news organization, capitalizing on the potential of the internet.
Jeff Bezos, the visionary behind Amazon, acquired The Washington Post for $250 million in 2013 and has recently taken a more hands-on approach to the newspaper’s operations.
However, as the executive editor at that time, Martin Baron faced a persistent challenge while working under Bezos’ ownership.
Bezos’ vision for the paper was to transform it from a regional news organization into a global powerhouse. However, being budget-conscious, he was reluctant to increase the number of editors at The Post. He preferred to keep the count of “indirect” employees, which included editors, to a minimum.
Baron devised a clever strategy to navigate this constraint, as he reveals in his upcoming memoir. He and his team would tactfully avoid using the term “editor” in proposed new positions, opting for alternatives like “analyst” or “strategist” to maintain a delicate balance.
Jeff Bezos Renewed Interest
In recent months, Bezos has delved deeper into the news business and has taken a more active role in The Post’s operations. This heightened involvement comes amid declining staff morale and financial challenges faced by the newspaper.
Bezos is determined to make The Washington Post profitable, but it appears that the target may not be achievable this year. Nevertheless, his renewed interest and hands-on approach signal a commitment to overcoming the obstacles and steering the paper towards success.
Struggle With Loses
In 2023, The Washington Post is projected to face substantial losses, amounting to around $100 million, as disclosed by insiders knowledgeable about the company’s finances. Moreover, there are concerns that the company might miss its forecasts for ad revenue this year. Those who revealed this sensitive information chose to remain anonymous, emphasizing the confidentiality of these internal financial matters.
The newspaper has been grappling with challenges in increasing its paying customer base, with digital subscriptions peaking at three million during the 2020 election but now standing at around 2.5 million.
Despite the financial difficulties, Jeff Bezos, the paper’s owner, has expressed satisfaction with every dollar invested in the company, according to The Post’s interim chief executive, Patty Stonesifer. A source familiar with Bezos’ plans indicated that 2023 is seen as a year for investment, suggesting a commitment to revitalizing the newspaper’s prospects.
Bezos’ purchase of The Washington Post marked the end of the Graham family’s decades-long ownership, during which the paper achieved legendary coverage of events like Watergate and the Pentagon Papers. Bezos’ ownership ushered in a new era of expansion, infused with his entrepreneurial vision.
In a meeting with Post staff shortly after his acquisition, Bezos encouraged experimentation with digital platforms, capitalizing on the internet’s global reach that had been instrumental in Amazon’s remarkable success. He also provided substantial financial support to bolster the newsroom and fuel growth.
Never Mind The Challenges
Despite the current challenges, interim CEO Patty Stonesifer expressed unwavering enthusiasm for The Washington Post’s future, anticipating an even more exciting second decade under Jeff Bezos’ ownership. The acquisition represented a significant milestone, establishing Bezos as a key figure in the newspaper industry and signalling a commitment to expand and adapt in the digital age.
Upon acquiring The Washington Post, Jeff Bezos actively engaged in product decisions and made strategic appointments to shape the newspaper’s future. He appointed Fred Ryan, former chief executive of Politico, as the publisher, replacing Katharine Weymouth, a member of the Graham family. Bezos retained Martin Baron as the top editor, consistently praising him as an invaluable journalism mentor for any owner. Likewise, he played a key role in selecting Sally Buzbee as Baron’s successor, even inviting her to his opulent residence in Washington’s Kalorama neighborhood.
The Re-entry Of Bezos
However, as time passed and Bezos stepped down from his role as Amazon’s chief executive, he gradually became less involved in The Post’s affairs, as insiders familiar with his interactions with the newsroom noted.
This changed in January, when Sally Buzbee approached Bezos with urgent concerns about low morale at The Post. She attributed much of this dissatisfaction to missteps made by the newspaper’s chief business executive, Fred Ryan, as relayed by sources familiar with her remarks.
Sally Buzbee’s relationship with Ryan had been tense, with accusations of leaking information about The Post’s operations to the press against her top deputy, Cameron Barr.
According to three sources, Ryan sought Barr’s ouster but denied making such accusations through a spokesperson. The Post chose not to comment on the situation, and two insiders familiar with the matter stated that there was no evidence supporting the claims of leaking.
These developments indicate a shift in Bezos’ level of involvement with The Post and underscore the challenges and complexities that arise in the leadership and management of a prominent newspaper.
The frustration among The Washington Post’s employees with what they perceived as a stagnant and stifling business culture under Fred Ryan’s leadership led many to voice their concerns to Sally Buzbee.
The newspaper faced a talent drain as prominent reporters, including Pulitzer Prize winners Eli Saslow, Robert Samuels, and Stephanie McCrummen, and top editors like Barr and Steven Ginsberg, departed in the past year.
This exodus extended to top Post executives, with Shailesh Prakash, Joy Robins, Kat Downs Mulder, and Kristine Coratti Kelly also leaving, some of whom joined The New York Times Company.
In an unusual occurrence, Jeff Bezos made a rare appearance in the newsroom in January. During meetings with Post journalists, some employees expressed apprehensions about Ryan’s actions and the newspaper’s direction.
Subsequently, in June, Fred Ryan announced his resignation, intending to begin a new project called the Center on Public Civility under the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation, which Bezos agreed to fund.
In the absence of Fred Ryan, Jeff Bezos appointed his longtime friend, Patty Stonesifer, who has served on Amazon’s board for over two decades, to lead The Post as the interim chief executive while the search for a permanent replacement was underway.
Stonesifer, who is not taking a salary for the role, has already started making her mark by actively engaging with staff and seeking their feedback on both positive aspects (“flowers”) and challenges (“weeds”) within the organization.
Patty Stonesifer, along with Fred Ryan, appointed Alex MacCallum and Vineet Khosla to key positions in The Post. Stonesifer has been assuring the staff that Bezos is fully committed to the newspaper and views it as a lasting legacy for his family.
Moreover, Bezos personally involved himself in an experimental project for The Post’s opinion section, led by editorial page editor David Shipley, whom he had recruited from Bloomberg. This initiative, still unnamed, explores the concept of a forum where readers from various U.S. cities can submit their own opinions and commentary.
These recent developments illustrate a period of transition and change at The Washington Post, driven by Bezos’ active participation and Stonesifer’s interim leadership.
The Last Bit, Jeff Bezos’ ownership of The Washington Post has been marked by ups and downs. While he initially sought to transform the newspaper into a global force, financial challenges and declining readership posed significant hurdles. However, recent events indicate a fresh commitment from Bezos to revitalize the paper and create a brighter future. With interim CEO Patty Stonesifer’s proactive approach and Bezos’ hands-on involvement, The Washington Post may find renewed success in the second decade of its ownership under one of the world’s most influential entrepreneurs.
