The Washington Post’s top opinion editor spoke openly with his staff over his anger over the decision not to endorse the president, and told them they could resign if they could not agree with it.
The Washington Free Beacon obtained a recording of a tense meeting Monday led by David Shipley, The Post’s editorial page editor. According to the Free Beacon, Shipley told Rai staff that they were free to express their disagreement, but would ultimately decide whether they were able to stay or go.
“Whatever decision you make, I’m okay with it,” Shipley said. “I really want to tell you not to get caught in the middle. Don’t stay here if you don’t want to.”
Shipley told staffers that he “tried very hard” to persuade The Post’s billionaire owner Jeff Bezos to reverse the decision via phone call, ultimately failing to do so.
He compared the verdict to a “bomb” that “exploded, and now we’re picking up the pieces.” He complained at the meeting that Bezos was destroying The Post’s reputation as an “independent journalism organization” and protested the timing of the decision, noting how it could be interpreted by readers.
Shipley was asked whether Bezos expressed who The Post should support. He responded, “I’m not going to say who he wished for or who he supported, because that’s not my place.”
According to the Free Beacon, an editor at the meeting said, “The one thing that cannot happen in this country is Trump getting another four years.”
Washington Post opinion writer Drew Goins reportedly suggested one way to avoid the decision was to publish an editorial condemning former President Trump without saying “endorsement” for Vice President Kamala Harris.
Can we, tomorrow, come out as an editorial board and say, again, Trump is a threat to the republic, Kamala Harris is a far better choice, it is important to vote in the election, we urge you to go out. Do more votes? Does the board have the liberty to say that without using the word ‘approval?'” Goins asked.
Goins later said, “I think I was under a misunderstanding until Friday about how editorial boards work.” “I was quite shocked by such direct interference from the owner on the board.”
Many employees further expressed concerns over Bezos’ control over the paper. Opinion columnist Dana Milbank wondered whether the billionaire might interfere “if it benefits Jeff’s business interests, and it would affect our journalism,” a concern he expressed to the Free Beacon.
“I have always been able to answer with a clear conscience that our boss, Jeff Bezos, does not interfere with our copy, does not tell us when we cannot publish something… I think I can now Can’t say that,” said economic columnist Katherine Rampel. “Who will believe us that this is true, that we are not just obeying them, that we are still an independent journalism organization?”
Liberal columnist and MSNBC contributor Eugene Robinson expressed outrage that The Post “has offended too many of our loyal and avid readers.” Another opinion employee asserted that “the damage to the board and section and paper is incurable.”
Columnist Ruth Marcus said at the meeting, “The failure to speak out strongly against Donald Trump and everything he stands for saddens me.”
Jennifer Rubin, who has been a vocal critic of Bezos’ decision, warned about the “obvious conflict” the billionaire would have with his other businesses and their ties to a potential Trump presidency, asking, “If Trump wins, So how about” Do we ever find out he’s not keeping his thumb on the scale?
“(The country) is on the verge of electing someone who is running on a platform of vengeance, fear and retribution,” Rubin said.
Shipley replied to Rubin, “If the doubts are overwhelming, you have to make the decision you feel is pure, right, and moral.”
A spokesman for The Washington Post declined to comment.
The panic continues at The Post as its “democracy is dying in the dark” story has lost more than 250,000 subscribers since Friday, while liberal readers are angry over the decision not to endorse Harris.
(TagstoTranslate)US News(T)2024 Presidential Election(T)Jeff Bezos(T)Kamala Harris(T)Washington Post
